Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Crain’s…
* Patch…
…Added By Rich… In case you’re wondering, Lion Electric wasn’t scheduled to receive any state money until early next year, and only if they had 608 full-time jobs by the end of this year and 1,228 jobs by the end of 2028. * Tribune | Advocates press for continued funding to college test prep support program: Supporters of a state program providing free test preparation to students at public universities and some community colleges said Wednesday the effort has saved students over $8 million in just two months, but needs $10 million in state funding to remain in operation. Illinois launched the program in late February, becoming the first state to offer free comprehensive test preparation for college students and already serving more than 200,000 students statewide. The program, a collaboration between the Illinois Student Assistance Commission and the educational service company Kaplan, allows students free access to more than 40 prep courses including graduate-level admissions exams such as the LSAT for law school, as well as courses in data analytics, cybersecurity and real estate. * WAND | Juvenile justice: Bill providing nonviolent youth resources to succeed heads to House: This plan could require the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice to provide employment opportunities, educational resources, and parental mentorship training for youth who committed nonviolent crimes. […] Trauma-informed behavioral health services and assistance applying for public health programs would also be offered starting July 1, 2026. * Tribune | Illinois ranks 20th in the nation for hospital safety, with more hospitals getting A’s and D’s: It’s possible that some Illinois hospitals made changes in hopes of improving patient safety and boosting their grades in order to attract more patients, said Cheryl Larson, president and CEO of the Midwest Business Group on Health, which helps facilitate the Leapfrog hospital survey in Illinois. “That’s the whole point of this, is driving people to the best, safest hospitals in the state of Illinois,” Larson said. Though Illinois improved its ranking overall, the ratings were a mixed bag for individual Illinois hospitals, with more hospitals notching A grades but also more earning D’s than when grades were last released in the fall. * WTTW | Proposal to Allow CPD to Impose ‘Snap Curfews’ to Stop Teen Gatherings Fails to Advance: After more than five hours of debate, the Chicago City Council’s Public Safety Committee took no action on the plan, backed by Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling but opposed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward), who crafted the measure after two high-profile shootings in Streeterville, a neighborhood popular with tourists and wealthy Chicagoans, will bring the measure back for a vote at 1 p.m. Monday. * NBC Chicago | Residents protest hotel proposal near Obama Center amid nearly $500 rent hikes: Philon Green was forced to move out of Woodlawn because of skyrocketing rent prices. He wanted to stay at Jackson Park Terrace — down the street from the under-construction Obama Presidential Center — but his landlord raised the rent from about $800 to $1,300. […] Being priced out of the neighborhood was a concern shared at a protest Tuesday morning by other Woodlawn and South Shore residents, who now fear rental prices will rise if a proposed luxury hotel gets city approval. * WBEZ | Mayor Brandon Johnson took your calls on crime, transportation and housing: Doug in the South Loop asked about traffic safety and the mayor highlighted his plans for bike- and bus-only lanes to move people through the city safely. Johnson also talked about the city recently joining a federal lawsuit that essentially seeks to preserve the jobs of federal employees targeted by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. * Sun-Times | Deal in the works to loan Columbus statue removed from Arrigo Park to Italian-American group: The tentative settlement between the Chicago Park District and the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans resolves a long-running lawsuit filed by the group after former Mayor Lori Lightfoot removed both Columbus statues from their pedestals after they became targets of vandalism during the civic unrest following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Both Columbus statues have been in storage ever since in a Park District warehouse on the South Side. * Block Club | Deborah’s Place Marks 40 Years Of Helping Unhoused Women In Chicago: “I’d love for us to help put ourselves out of business,” said Wilson, CEO of the Chicago nonprofit, which has spent the past four decades working to end homelessness for women. “That’s the dream.” Wilson has seen a lot of other organizations come and go in that time. One of the main reasons Deborah’s Place has not only survived but grown is its culture of adaptability, she said. “As the world changes, we’ve been able to step back and ask, ‘How do we keep our mission and values intact while learning new ways of serving women?’” she said. * WGN | City of Chicago, Jussie Smollett reach settlement in civil lawsuit, according to federal court documents: The city filed a civil lawsuit against Smollett in April 2019, seeking to recoup about $130,000 — the amount of money spent on overtime for CPD investigators who looked into Smollett’s initial attack claim. According to federal court documents, the parties contacted the courtroom deputy on Wednesday “to advise they have settled, but need more time to finalize documentation.” A status hearing in U.S. District Court was initially set for Wednesday but has been reset to Thursday, May 29. * Vintage Chicago Tribune | The 40-year saga of State of Illinois Center: May 6 marks 40 years since the State of Illinois Center was dedicated. The pink-and-blue building with stunning atrium and walls made of glass, was championed by Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson as the catalyst for a revitalization of Chicago’s Loop. Thompson also approved its futuristic design and later the structure was renamed for him. The center, designed to house thousands of government workers from dozens of agencies, was initially touted as, “A building for the year 2000.” Not long after the dawn of the new millennium, however, cash-strapped state officials began looking for ways to sell it — or demolish it. * Naperville Sun | DuPage County shares little info on ransomware attack as investigation continues: “Thanks to extensive planning and preparedness efforts, we have been able to ensure the continuity of operations for the residents of DuPage County,” Chief Judge Bonnie Wheaton, Circuit Court Clerk Candice Adams and Sheriff Jim Mendrick said in a joint statement Wednesday in response to questions over where the situation stands. Asked whether any sensitive information was compromised by the attack, county spokesman Evan Shields declined comment, citing an active investigation. * Daily Southtown | Park Forest water ranks 4th in state contest, but quality comes with high cost: After consistently winning the title for the best drinking water in the south suburbs, the village of Park Forest is celebrating a fourth place ranking across Illinois for its water’s taste, appearance and aroma. Public Works Director Roderick Ysaguirre and chief water plant operator Wendy Schafer, who represented the village at Illinois Watercon in Peoria, said what makes Park Forest’s water special is its independent treatment plant as well as the water itself, which the village retrieves from underground wells. * Daily Herald | As Schakowsky decision looms, another Democrat announces run for her seat: Chicagoan Justin Ford this week announced he’ll seek the Democratic nomination for the congressional post Schakowsky, of Evanston, has held since 1999. “I think we need not just new faces but a new type of leader,” Ford said in an email Thursday. * Daily Herald | Celebrity chef Stephanie Izard opening burger spot at Hollywood Casino food halls in Aurora and Joliet: The Boulevard Food & Drink Hall will offer a fresh dining experience at the new casinos, including an all-new burger concept from celebrity chef Stephanie Izard, and Chicago favorites Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream, according to a news release. Izard is best known as the first female chef to win Bravo’s reality cooking competition “Top Chef,” taking the title during the show’s fourth season. * WCIA | State Police provide updates on Chatham after-school tragedy: While there, Akers submitted blood and urine samples and was then released. Kelly said that testing has since indicated that she was not under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances. […] Kelly said investigators have taken data from Akers’ car. While some evidence indicates Akers may have suffered a medical emergency behind the wheel, Kelly stressed this evidence is not conclusive so far. The cause of the crash is still unknown, and the investigation is ongoing. * NPR Illinois | Larger driver’s services office to open in Springfield; smaller ones are closing: The former driver’s services facility on Dirksen Parkway will reopen as the Springfield Secretary of State’s Flagship Center. The change also means several other sites in the city will close. Secretary Alexi Giannoulias said it will showcase the efficiencies generated by modernization initiatives. “Our continued effort to modernize the office allows us to not only improve the customer experience, but consolidate operations, which allows us to provide better service to residents,” he said. * NYT | How Nearly a Century of Happiness Research Led to One Big Finding: Rohrer’s work was published around the same time that other researchers were finding, in high-quality and replicated studies, that even fleeting social interactions could improve happiness. Nicholas Epley and Juliana Schroeder, researchers both then at the University of Chicago, conducted an experiment in which they asked people to interact with strangers on public transit — to try to have a moment of connection — and found that the commuters seemed to get a mood boost from the exercise. Epley and Schroeder’s research and other studies have found that people underestimated both how much they would enjoy the experience and how open the strangers would be to it. * Politico | RFK Jr.’s politically explosive search for autism’s ‘root cause’: Kennedy’s grim depiction of the most profound cases of autism — many “will never use a toilet unassisted,” he said in April — sparked condemnation from several groups devoted to championing autistic people. They said his remarks perpetuate stigmas associated with a condition that has a broad spectrum of manifestations — and, coupled with his well-known vaccine skepticism, color any attempt by the agency he leads, the Department of Health and Human Services, to conduct further autism research. * NYT | Trump Administration Cancels $1 Billion in Grants for Student Mental Health: The Trump administration has halted $1 billion for mental health services for children, saying that the programs funded by a bipartisan law aimed at stemming gun violence in schools were no longer in “the best interest of the federal government.” Lawmakers authorized the money in 2022 after a former student opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two teachers and injuring 17 others. The measure, known as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, broke a decades-long impasse between congressional Republicans and Democrats on addressing gun violence by focusing largely on improving mental health support for students.
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Musical chairs (Updated)
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Politico looks at possible candidates if US House members and others decide to run for US Senate…
Additions, subtractions, other thoughts? …Adding… Daily Herald…
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Powering Illinois’ Energy And Economic Future
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] What if Illinois could expand its energy grid, attract AI and emerging tech companies to the state, and provide over 60,000 new jobs with no impact on communities or the environment? SOO Green makes it possible. Built along existing rail corridors, this underground transmission project will deliver 2,100 MW of low-cost reliable power making the electric grid more resilient in the face of extreme weather while unlocking billions in economic investments for Illinois. The SOO Green Advantage:
• 60,000+ new jobs • Lower energy costs for families and businesses • $26 billion in economic benefits statewide • $9.8 billion in health benefits by reducing emissions With SOO Green all ratepayers will enjoy a more reliable grid, protection from rising energy costs, and a stronger economy for Illinois. Learn more at www.soogreen.com.
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Comptroller Mendoza points to SAFE-T Act provision, says it’s time to ‘get rid of policies that have not made our communities safer and have in fact, put officers and residents at risk’ (Updated)
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s remarks as prepared for delivery today at the 2025 Illinois Police Officers Memorial Ceremony in Springfield…
Discuss. …Adding… Sen. Peters has been a champion of the SAFE-T Act…
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Repeal IFPA Now
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] ![]() IFPA Will Harm our Members and our Communities. “It’s not going to work…this would be absolutely devastating.” Stop the Chaos for Our Military Families!
Paid for by Illinois Credit Union League.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Securing The Future: How Ironworkers Power Energy Storage With Precision And Skill
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] As Illinois accelerates toward a clean energy future, ironworkers are doing more than just supporting the transition—they’re making it possible with safe, skilled, and reliable rigging and equipment setting on some of the state’s most critical energy storage projects. Thanks to bold investments by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly, energy storage—especially battery systems—has become a centerpiece of the state’s green infrastructure. Behind the scenes, union ironworkers are the ones rigging and setting massive battery units and essential equipment with unmatched precision. These are not just construction tasks—they’re mission-critical operations that demand expertise, coordination, and an unwavering commitment to safety. From anchoring battery enclosures to securing large-scale energy storage units in place, ironworkers are central to ensuring these projects meet performance and safety standards. Their contribution is foundational to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which is reshaping how Illinois stores and delivers clean power. Including highly trained union labor on these complex jobs not only protects workers and communities—it guarantees the success of each installation. When you see a battery system supporting solar or wind energy in Illinois, know that ironworkers had a hand in setting it safely, skillfully, and reliably. In every bolt tightened and every rig lifted, ironworkers are powering a greener tomorrow.
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Judge blames mistrials on ‘confusing’ jury notes, moves La Schiazza retrial to next year
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * First, some background from the Sun-Times, published last December…
* Today’s update from Tribune reporter Jason Meisner…
Thoughts?
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It’s just a bill
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * NBC Chicago…
* Sen. Laura Fine…
* The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association on SB1531…
* WCIA…
Sen. Turner’s HB1287 passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the bill now heads to the Senate floor. * Sun-Times…
* Sen. Laura Murphy…
* WAND…
* Sen. Lakesia Collins…
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Illinois Medicaid: Working Together To Support The Health Of Our Families, Communities, And State
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] ‘You showed up in my life at the perfect time’ On any given day, nearly 26,000 Illinois residents experience homelessness. Last summer, “Trinity,” a 33-year-old mom from central Illinois, was one of them. Trinity and her children had moved into an emergency shelter, which partners with a Medicaid health plan to host mobile clinic events at their facility. When Trinity showed up at an event, the scope of her family’s medical needs became clear. The family had visited emergency rooms twice in the past week. All of her children were overdue for well-child exams. And Trinity was 16 weeks pregnant—without any prenatal Practitioners acted swiftly, checking up on the kids and performing prenatal assessments on Trinity. She was prescribed medication for extremely high blood pressure and monitored at three subsequent clinic events. In November, Trinity delivered a healthy baby boy. And she brought him home to long-term housing she secured near the shelter—with assistance from her health plan. “You showed up in my life at the perfect time,” Trinity says. “You have helped me so much, and I don’t feel alone.” Paid for by the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans
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Open thread
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * And now for something a little different. From Vietnam, here’s Suboi… Why throwing stones at people who are happy? What up by you?
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Mautino ready to “come back home” after 30+ years in Springfield. Starved Rock…
- Mautino says when his 10-year term ends at the end of this year, that’s it for him. Mautino says one term has always been the plan, saying “realistically you don’t want a 74-year-old auditor general.” He will stay on until the Illinois Audit Commission picks a replacement. - Prior to being Auditor General, Mautino served 12 terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, on top of finishing out his late father’s term in Springfield. * BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * The governor will be at the Illinois State Library at 11 am to deliver remarks at the 40th Annual Police Officers’ Memorial Ceremony. Click here to watch. * WBEZ | Chicago hasn’t seen an April with fewer murders since 1962: The city’s 115 murders through this year’s first four months mark the lowest January-through-April tally since 2014. Even if the city’s violence intensifies during summer, as it traditionally does, Chicago appears on pace to hit Mayor Brandon Johnson’s goal for 2025 to have fewer than 500 murders, making it the quietest year in a decade. * Crain’s | With Trump cuts looming, Johnson hits Springfield to plead for cash: The visit comes roughly a month before state legislators will vote on a budget, and Johnson defended himself against criticism his demands are coming in too late to be accommodated. Back in Chicago, the mayor’s budget team has been briefing members of the City Council on the need for more revenue from the state, the city’s first-quarter revenue, and how the budget will be affected as President Donald Trump cuts federal spending and dramatically downsizes federal programs. * STLPR | More states are moving to scrap sales tax at the grocery store: In Kansas and Oklahoma, shoppers stopped having to pay a state sales tax on groceries in January and August, respectively. Now fewer and fewer U.S. states continue to charge the tax, including Missouri and South Dakota, and several states have proposed legislation to do away with it. Some worry about the lost state revenue without the taxes. But supporters on both sides of the political spectrum say the cuts are needed – especially as shoppers face expensive prices at the grocery store. * Capitol News Illinois | Stratton’s top priority in Senate campaign: Fighting back against Trump: “What people want, and need, is a stable leader in D.C.,” Stratton said. “Right now, with Donald Trump, we don’t have that. We don’t have someone who is focused on global issues overall and the impact.” Blocking Trump’s agenda must be the first priority, Stratton said, to allow congressional Democrats to move forward on proposals that address voters’ concerns. She said she didn’t know yet what her first bill would be should she win the seat. * Capitol News Illinois | With 1 month left in session, lawmakers near deal on public transit reform: Villivalam, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said he and his colleagues are “continuing discussions” about the bill. “As we head into the remaining weeks of our spring legislative session, I look forward to working toward a solution that provides safe, reliable, accessible, and integrated public transit to the northeastern Illinois region,” Villivalam said in a statement. * Illinois Times | Illinois Republicans need diversity of views, a bigger tent: In previous conversations with political experts like UIS emeritus professor Kent Redfield and Illinois Republicans like former leader Don Tracy, there is a consensus that the gerrymandered legislative district lines within the state heavily contribute to the uneven distribution of political power. However, in the case of politics, power begets power. When an incumbent is in control, it makes it easier to remain in power, according to Redfield. “If I were Democrat, I would never agree to [independent map drawing] unless it’s on a national basis,” said Tracy. “What the Democrats have done to us in Illinois, we Republicans are doing to Democrats in other states where we have control. I’ve heard the Democrats make that argument, calling it unilateral disarmament, and I’m sympathetic to that.” * Sun-Times | Trump AmeriCorps cuts include grant terminations for $12 million in Illinois programs: Illinois nonprofits, government agencies and other organizations have seen $12 million in AmeriCorps grants terminated amid the Trump administration’s dismantling of the venerated federal agency for volunteer service. That includes grants administered to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago and the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, whose AmeriCorps members were told by the federal government on Monday to stop all grant activities and to stop reporting for service, according to a state of Illinois email obtained by the Sun-Times. * ABC Chicago | Thousands expected to march, rally in downtown Chicago: Tens of thousands are expected to hit the streets for a May Day rally commemorating workers’ rights, but organizers say issues like immigration, education and healthcare will also be issues at the core of the message demonstrators want to send home. […] Leaders said the march will be part of hundreds taking place nationally, bringing people together impacted by the Trump Administration. * Crain’s | Civic heavyweights push CPD to rethink community policing strategy: Several civic groups are offering the Chicago Police Department some lessons on how to implement community policing: a key part of the six-year-old federal consent decree that requires the city to reform some of the ways it fights crime. The groups hired a consulting firm, which interviewed 17 police departments nationwide about their approaches to community policing, as Superintendent Larry Snelling prepares to finalize CPD’s community policing strategy. It is among four reports CPD released today on feedback about community policing. The keys to success include making community policing the department’s core strategy, rather than a tactic; having a strong commitment from the top; and providing resources to the rank and file to make it a reality. * Sun-Times | Snap curfew proposal on hold after objections at marathon City Council hearing: Hopkins blinked after his powerful co-sponsors — Budget Chair Jason Ervin (28th) and Finance Chair Pat Dowell (3rd) — asked for more time to iron out the legal kinks. “I want to make sure that what we’re doing is constitutionally sound — and I believe that it is,” Ervin said. “This is much better than where we started. Might there be some smaller thing that can be done? Maybe.” * Sun-Times | Lincoln Square road closure offers glimpse of car-free streets: ‘A nice little breather’: “[The closure has] actually increased our business,” said Sean Herron, general manager of Gearhead Outfitters, 4724 N. Lincoln Ave., which has placed a sales rack full of merchandise on the sidewalk since the road closed. “From a personal perspective, living here in Lincoln Square, I think it’s a fabulous idea and I love seeing people out here,” Herron said. “But from a business side, we’ve got to do more studies.” * Tribune | American Airlines to launch service to 7 new destinations from O’Hare next winter: American Airlines will begin flying to seven new destinations from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport later this year, many of them warm-weather tourism spots. Nonstop service to Curacao; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Maarten; Guatemala City, Guatemala; and San José, Costa Rica, will launch in November and December. The Guatemala City flight will operate year-round, while the others will be seasonal winter flights. * Daily Herald | Two measles cases confirmed in Cook County: One case was discovered in a suburban Cook County resident who went to a local hospital for medical care on April 28, according to a joint press release from the Cook County, Chicago and Illinois Departments of Public Health. The individual was isolated after being evaluated, and their vaccination status is unknown. The other case was found in an adult Chicago resident who first noticed a rash on April 25 and has been isolated at home since being diagnosed. This individual had one prior dose of MMR vaccine. * Evanston Now | New council heavy with homeowners: Although U.S. Census survey data indicates 43% percent of Evanston households are renters, the 10 policymakers for the city — the nine council members and mayor — include eight homeowners and only two renters, Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) and Ald. Bobby Burns (5th). That’s down from three renters on the last council, with the departure of Ald. Devon Reid (8th). * Daily Herald | ‘This is totally different’: Itasca hotel offers rappelling experience: On Wednesday, Trujillo was among the first to experience the new “Altitude Zone” at the Westin Chicago Northwest. Launched in partnership with Meet Chicago Northwest and Over The Edge, Altitude Zone allows participants to rappel down the 12-story hotel with panoramic views of nearby lakes, neighborhoods and planes landing at O’Hare International Airport. * WGLT | Trump’s AmeriCorps cuts kill legal help program at McLean County’s courthouse: Illinois JusticeCorps placed fellows and other helpers at courthouses in 17 locations around Illinois, including the Law and Justice Center in Bloomington for the past 12 years. JusticeCorps members helped self-represented litigants find and fill out the right forms and get procedural guidance. Divorce and family cases were about half of the work, one JusticeCorps official said. That all ended this week. Illinois JusticeCorps was shut down Monday after losing its federal funding, as part of the Trump administration’s broader unraveling of AmeriCorps. The agency canceled almost $400 million in grants on Friday. Illinois and other states have sued to stop it. * Sun-Times | Former Jan. 6 defendant found guilty of reckless homicide – not first-degree murder – over fatal 2022 crash: That jury found Shane Jason Woods, a man once convicted for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot, guilty of reckless homicide for driving his GMC Sierra the wrong way onto Interstate 55 near Lake Springfield on Nov. 8, 2022, killing Lauren Wegner of Skokie. But the jury rejected a more serious charge of first-degree murder, as Woods’ defense attorneys had urged them to do. * WCIA | Impact Life supports Chatham with blood donations after hospitals ask for extra help: After the tragedy, two hospitals they supply asked for some extra units — 30 bags of “O” positive and “O” negative blood, 13 plasma and three platelets,. “So grateful for the volunteer donors that come in to help provide those blood products in advance of an emergency,” Account Manager Sara Palacio said. “And we invite everyone to find a time at a mobile blood drive or donor center where they can give.” * Axios | Trump on possible toy shortage: “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30″: His comments came amid growing concern that that the 2025 holiday shopping season will be significantly disrupted. Toy Association CEO Greg Ahearn told the New York Times this week that the industry is facing “a frozen supply chain that is putting Christmas at risk.” * WaPo | RFK Jr. will require shift in how new vaccines are tested, HHS says: All new vaccines will undergo safety testing in placebo-controlled trials prior to licensure — a radical departure from past practices,” an HHS spokesperson told The Washington Post in response to questions about Kennedy’s comments on the measles vaccines and general vaccine policy. Vaccines for new pathogens are often tested this way. But for well-researched diseases, such as measles and polio, public health experts say it makes little sense to do that and can be unethical, because the placebo group would not receive a known effective intervention. * Daily Herald | Ready or not, REAL ID enforcement begins next week at airports: It’s not a drill — the federal government will begin enforcing REAL ID at airports on May 7, U.S. Transportation Security Administration officials reminded travelers Wednesday. But there is some wiggle room, authorities noted during a briefing at O’Hare International Airport. Adults will be required to show REAL ID driver’s licenses or cards to board a domestic flight, although certain alternates like passports also are acceptable. The rule also applies to some federal buildings.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some other stuff (Updated)
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, May 1, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Thursday, May 1, 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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Isabel’s afternoon briefing
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* ABC Chicago | Chicago Mayor Johnson meets with Gov. Pritzker, others in Springfield over ‘reasonable’ funding asks: “I always appreciate the opportunity to speak with Mayor Johnson about Chicago’s priorities-many of which are already part of the ongoing conversations happening in the Capitol. Chicago is an economic and cultural engine for our state; when Chicago succeeds, we all succeed. It’s clear that the Trump Administration sees Chicago and Illinois as a top target of their cruel and chaotic agenda, so it’s critical that the leaders of our state maintain an open dialogue about how we keep Illinois moving in a better direction,” Welch said in a statement. * CNN | Inside JB Pritzker’s public and private efforts to counter Trump and challenge fellow Democrats: [I]n the interview before the speech he stuck to saying he hasn’t even decided whether to launch the campaign for a third term as governor that aides are already planning, teasing more speeches around the country, and giving on-brand line: “This is a time for people to stand up and fight.” * ICYMI: The governor is scheduled to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live tomorrow night. * KFVS | AmeriCorps cuts affect programs across Missouri and Illinois: Katie Rhoades, Founder and Co-Executive Director, tells First Alert 4, “We heard at 7:14 p.m. on a Friday night that our AmeriCorps funding has been terminated, so we lost three federal grants before our original end date, which has amounted to about a $250,000 loss to the organization.” Rhoades says the organization is losing the equivalent of over 22,000 hours of service. Healing Action Network is now stopping victim intake and reducing staff. * Crain’s | Developer looks to force vote on $1B residential project near planned Bally’s casino: Zoning chair Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, who also represents the area, has deferred the vote because of his fear it will be rejected unless the developer signs a labor peace agreement with SEIU Local 1 to not interfere with the union’s attempts to organize workers at its residential buildings. On April 21, the developer’s zoning attorney, DLA Piper’s Katie Jahnke Dale, sent Burnett a letter, reviewed by Crain’s, informing him the developer was attempting to bypass his committee through a city rule meant to prioritize affordable housing. * Block CLub | Who Gets Housing First? While City Pressured To Fast Track Apartments For Some Homeless, Most Wait Years: But what happened at Gompers Park also revealed how the city’s process for determining who gets housing next is often secretive and confusing. And the events raise questions about whether the city plays politics by prioritizing housing for people in some encampments over many others in the city’s placement database. Without enough units to house everyone, the city and its nonprofit partners require unhoused people to enroll in a “prioritization” system to get connected to more long-term housing. * WaPo | This patient expected a free checkup. The bill was $1,430.: Carmen Aiken of Chicago made an appointment for an annual physical exam in July 2023, planning to get checked out and complete some blood tests. […] A patient who needs blood tests for a specific medical concern — as Aiken did, for medication monitoring — could be required to pay part of the bill. That’s the case even if the blood test is performed during a checkup alongside preventive services. Some health insurers pay for standard blood tests as part of a preventive visit, but that’s not always the case. * Crain’s | Chicago’s top cannabis companies lost millions amid industry slide: Verano Holdings lost $341.8 million and Cresco Labs lost $60.4 million in 2024, according to an analysis of public securities filings by Crain’s. The exception to the trend was Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries with $73 million in net income, filings show. The losses for Verano and Cresco were despite their respective revenues last year of $878.6 million and $724.3 million. Verano, founded in 2014, has marijuana operations in 13 U.S. states, while the footprint of Cresco, founded in 2013, spans eight states. * Crain’s | Wacker Drive office tower hits the market, setting up a nasty blow for seller: There is no specific asking price for the property, but sales of other downtown office buildings in recent months suggest it is worth a fraction of that number today. The rise of remote work and elevated interest rates have driven away many deep-pocketed real estate investors from buying office buildings in Chicago, bludgeoning property values and fueling rampant distress that’s hampering the central business district’s post-pandemic recovery. * WBEZ | Illinois’s coolest career is found in… rock and bone?: Pennsylvania’s coolest job was chocolate scientist at Hershey, while California’s was animator at Pixar. And Illinois? The survey found that respondents thought the coolest work you can do in Illinois is be a paleontologist for the Field Museum. […] Reset talks with Field Museum paleontologists to find out more. * Sun-Times | 120-year-old Jackson Park pavilion sits as a park district ruin: A Chicago Park District spokesperson said it “is moving forward with plans” to renovate the building. She said the agency is working through a mandated federal environmental assessment procedure — a process that started this year — before work can begin. Here’s hoping that’s a good sign. * Block Club | Uber Wrongfully Charged Riders Downtown Congestion Fee For Months: New rules went into affect Jan. 6 that allowed rideshare companies to charge a $1.50 congestion surcharge for all rides to and from Downtown between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days a week, with the revenue benefitting the city. But customers since then have noticed they’ve been charged the fee late-night and early-morning trips outside of those hours. After Block Club Chicago reached out to Uber about the discrepancy, the company is now promising refunds. * Tribune | Downtown alderman considering Cook County Board run against Preckwinkle: Reilly, 42nd, told the Tribune he would make a final decision in the coming weeks, but claimed he’d been approached to take on Preckwinkle — who is so far uncontested for her fifth term — in recent weeks. He made similar overtures for a Congressional run against Democratic Rep. Danny Davis in 2015 and has also explored mayoral runs in past cycles but has stayed put in City Hall. * WGN | Records reveal Tiffany Henyard’s taxpayer-funded positions paid $347,000 last year: Newly obtained records show Henyard’s gross pay at her two government jobs totaled more than $347,000 last year. The payout includes a total of $282,812 from the township. That includes an annual salary of $202,950, in addition to allowances for a telephone, vehicle and $59,400 for “expenses.” * Daily Herald | Iconic ‘castle’ in Fox River Grove cancels all events after village rescinds special-use permit: “The Village of Fox River Grove has informed us that our existing special use permit is no longer valid, as it was originally issued under our parents’ names. They are now requiring us to go through the full process of reapplying for a new special use permit in order to continue hosting tours and events at the Castle,” the statement read. * Daily Southtown | Homewood cuts out No Mow May, encourages other options to help environment: A founder of the environmental organization South Suburbs for Greenspace, Varmecky said she’s not very happy with Homewood’s decision to not participate this year in No Mow May, something it promoted last year to support pollinator health. “They did not give people a ton of notice,” Varmecky said Wednesday. “If they had announced this last fall then people would have had time to do alternate methods.” * WGLT | McLean County’s family treatment court lays groundwork to replicate program across Illinois: “It’s kind of an arm or an offshoot of the abuse and neglect courtroom,” connecting the recovery support process with intensive courtroom supervision, said McLean County associate judge Brian Goldrick, who presides over the court’s Child Protection Division. All family court clients are involved in Goldrick’s courtroom. He was among four panelists discussing the family court during a public forum Tuesday at the Bloomington Public Library. Women to Women Giving Circle hosted the event. * WCIA | Vermilion Co. officials say loss of UPS facility would be ‘devastating’ after closing date set: Last month, officials in Vermilion County urged UPS not to close the Tilton shipping center in a letter. The letter, signed by Senator Faraci and Representative Schweizer, asked UPS to work with them to keep the facility open. As it currently sits, the facility will close on June 10th. 50 workers got word this week that their final days on the job will be June 9th. * WSIL | Rural expressway expansion project from Southern Illinois to St. Louis Metro area moves to next phase: The project’s coalition held a meeting today to explain the environmental engineering study that will start in June. Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens says they are still far away from starting construction. “This is a billion-dollar project, and so we have $6 million to help further the study of the corridor,” Mayor Stephens says. “But we are much closer now than we were six years ago.” * NJ | Many nursing homes feed residents on less than $10 a day: ‘That’s appallingly low.’: In Illinois, Danielle Combs is suing River Crossing of Edwardsville, a half-hour drive from St. Louis, claiming the facility failed to assist her father Guy Combs when it knew that he was unable, or ill-equipped, to feed himself after having a stroke and losing some use of his arms. Each day, someone dropped off a tray of food in his room. Unable to feed himself, he could do little more than stare at the plate they had left for him, said his daughter.
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When RETAIL Succeeds, Illinois Succeeds
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Findings of a recent economic study were clear — the retail sector is a cornerstone of the state’s economy and crucial to our everyday lives. Retail in Illinois directly contributes more than $112 billion in economic investment annually – more than 10 percent of the state’s total Gross Domestic Product. Retailers like Armando in Champaign enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.
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From the national legal front
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Click here for the amicus brief. Press release…
* Click here for the complaint. Press release…
* Click here for the letter. Press release excerpt…
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New GDP numbers could signal trouble for Illinois’ more optimistic budget forecast
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s FY 2026 Economic Forecast and Revenue Estimate and FY 2025 Revenue Update…
* NPR…
You’ll recall that COGFA’s projected revenue estimates were significantly lower than the governor’s budget office projections last month. The governor’s budget director at one point hinted that April’s tax receipts might out-perform expectations, and we’ll know more in a few days or so about that (and since April’s receipts will be based mainly on last year’s income, they could very well be significantly higher). Illinois’ unemployment rate in March was 4.8 percent, unchanged from the previous month and down a tick from the previous year. Employment is a hard indicator. When jobs fall, trouble is afoot. But that hasn’t yet been reported. And the GDP drop, as noted above, is tied in part to a surge in pre-tariff import buying. Anyway, that’s a lot to digest, and there’s even more out there, but the bottom line is the headline on this post. So, buckle up for FY26. [This post has been updated for clarity.]
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Public Pressure Mounts For Nursing Home Accountability On Care And Safe Staffing
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] In recent weeks, advocates for quality senior care have been joined by concerned lawmakers in an escalating and increasingly public call to ensure public funding is used to address the longstanding short staffing crisis in Illinois nursing homes. In a March 12th S-T op-ed, SEIU Healthcare Executive VP Erica Bland noted that the COVID-19 crisis “revealed the true extent and human cost of the understaffing crisis.” The crisis, she said, has not improved. Then, on April 8th, SEIU released a new report on the state of long-term care in Illinois and was joined by lawmakers, Alzheimer’s Association and AARP for a Blue Room press conference. The report detailed the failure of the industry to address longstanding short staffing: despite $15 billion in public funding over the past five years—including hundreds of millions intended to support staffing—1 in 5 nursing homes still fail to meet the legal minimum staffing standards. The report caught the attention of the media, with coverage by Crain’s, FOX, NBC, CBS in Chicago, Springfield’s WICS, and other outlets. A follow up press conference on April 17th provided an example of the impact of short staffing at an individual facility, Southpoint Nursing Home, and gained additional coverage in Chicago on FOX and NBC—and a lengthy WVON interview. The growing public concern about short staffing sends a clear message. It’s time to pass HB2507 to ensure public funding goes to care and not to profit.
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Mayor’s 87 percent transit ridership remarks turned back on him when it comes to funding (Updated)
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller * Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson held a quick press conference this morning before meeting with the three tops. He was asked several questions about mass transit governance and funding…
My hat’s off to Ben Szalinski of Capitol News Illinois for that last follow-up. …Adding… Hmm… * Meanwhile, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle had this to say to Isabel today about consolidating the mass transit systems…
Please pardon any transcription errors.
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WAND…
* KBSI…
* WAND…
* Daily Herald…
* WAND…
* Rep. Norma Hernandez…
* WAND…
* Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford…
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Healing Communities: Endeavor Health Is Helping Train The Next Generation Of Caregivers
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] With over $30.2 million from Endeavor Health’s Community Investment Fund (CIF), the Evanston-based health system is propelling efforts to enhance community health and well-being through partnerships and support local economic growth—which includes a serious effort to train future clinicians. Last summer, Endeavor Health’s CIF partnership with ASPIRE Lake County funded healthcare internships for high school students and community members. Twenty-one paid interns were placed in clinical and non-clinical areas at Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital, offering opportunities for future healthcare workers to learn firsthand how to coordinate and prioritize care. “I really think of it as growing the next generation of healthcare workers,” said Magdelena Dudek, clinical nurse manager in the operating room at Endeavor Health Highland Park Hospital. The program gives interns exposure to healthcare roles, builds job skills, and supports residents in securing a job in healthcare and meeting community employment needs. One intern, Madison, said the experience helped her understand the hospital setting and how to talk to people, among other benefits. Like Endeavor Health, Illinois hospitals know the health of communities depends on a strong healthcare workforce. That’s why they’re prioritizing programs to train future clinicians. Learn more about how Illinois hospitals are healing communities. Healing Communities: UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Provides Free Physicals for Special Olympics “One of the things that drew me to medicine is to be able to give back,” said Dr. Sravani Sagireddy. “It’s really nice to be able to step into the community and help people who really need it.” At the screening events, the residents perform vision, hearing and motor ability tests. They carefully assess each child for medical conditions that might make it unsafe for that child to participate in athletics. Special Olympics President and CEO Peter Beale-DelVecchio said UChicago Medicine AdventHealth “has been an incredible partner for us” and that the four-hospital health system is “helping us do more and more all the time.” Beyond the 24/7 care provided within their facilities, hospitals and health systems across Illinois are having a positive impact on communities by addressing community needs and providing accessible care. Learn more about how Illinois hospitals are healing communities.
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Open thread
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller The two countries are my homeland Let us know what’s going on in your part of the world.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers can click here and here for a refresh. ICYMI: The RTA is running ads while riders and legislators are running out of patience. Rep. Kam Buckner…
* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here. * Capitol News Illinois | After-school programs continue push for state aid: “There are decades of research that supports that after-school programs improve school day performance, grades and attendance, helps reduce violence, and also supports working class families,” Rep. Aaron Ortiz, D-Chicago, told a House budget committee Tuesday. Ortiz is the lead sponsor of House Bill 3082, which calls for $50 million to be distributed by the Illinois State Board of Education through a competitive grant program to entities that seek to provide tutoring and other enrichment services in high-poverty schools, where 40% or more of the students come from low-income households. * WGN | Mayor Brandon Johnson heads to Springfield with a revised fiscal wish list: The mayor wants to generate $12.5 million through a tax on prepaid cellphone and calling cards, raise $27.5 million by extending the $5-a-month 911 surcharge, get more funding for the city’s unified shelter system and improve state reimbursement rates for various services including education. * Sun-Times | Trump targets sanctuary cities like Chicago with new orders: ‘This administration already has it in for us’: One of the orders signed by Trump orders state and federal officials to publish lists of jurisdictions often referred to as sanctuary cities that limit cooperation with federal officials’ efforts to arrest immigrants in the country illegally. A second order signed by Trump calls for increasing access to excess military for state and local law enforcement. It also calls for bolstering legal support for officers accused of wrongdoing while carrying out their official duties. Trump also directed the office of Attorney General Pam Bondi to set up a system that would provide legal aid and financial protection to law enforcement officers “who unjustly incur expenses and liabilities for actions taken during the performance of their official duties to enforce the law.” * KWQC | IL Board of Higher Education questioned by lawmakers: The Legislative Audit Commission is calling for stronger internal controls at the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The commission found that the board made late voucher payments to schools 90% of the time in fiscal year 2023. Republican State Senator Chapin Rose noted that the Legislative Audit Commission made 17 compliance recommendations, nine of which were repeat findings. * Daily Herald | Community colleges renew push for four-year degrees, but universities push back: The proposal was boosted by the endorsement of Gov. JB Pritzker during his State of the State address in February, when he said the plan would help fill the needs of regional employers and create a pathway to jobs for more people. Since then, Proctor — who will head the Illinois Community College President’s Council starting in July — has made advocating for four-year degrees a top legislative priority during the General Assembly’s current spring session. The House bill that would authorize baccalaureate programs at community colleges, sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl of Northbrook, now has 52 bipartisan cosponsors. * Tribune | The State of Illinois has a new Poet Laureate and fellow poets rejoice: This is an honorary position, “tasked with promoting access to literary arts and raising awareness through statewide community engagement.” It comes with a yearly salary of $35,000 and $10,000 for expenses. Many in the poetry community applauded the choice. Turcotte sent his friend poet/artist Tony Fitzpatrick a text earlier on Tuesday telling him the news. “I cannot think of a better choice for this honor,” Fitzpatrick told me. “I met Mark in the early 90’s when we both got to read poems in honor of Gwendolyn Brooks. We were thrilled. I read a poem about Satchel Paige and Mark read one from his then upcoming book, ‘Exploding Chippewas.’ * Chalkbeat Chicago | Trump administration launches investigation into Chicago Public Schools’ Black Student Success Plan: That long-awaited plan was unveiled in February and challenged the following day by Virginia-based conservative group Parents Defending Education, which filed a similar complaint against a Los Angeles Unified School District initiative. The group alleges that the CPS plan violates Title VI, a provision of federal civil rights law that bars discrimination on the basis of race or shared ancestry. * Sun-Times | CPS plan to help Black students in crosshairs of Trump’s Education Department: CPS moved ahead with the initiative last week despite the federal complaint by the Virginia group. The school board launched the Black Student Success Committee to oversee the plan and tapped board member and longtime activist Jitu Brown as chair of the committee. * WTTW | Chinatown Business Owners Brace for Impact of Trump’s Ongoing Trade War With China: “We’ve started importing a lot in the last two weeks to deal with the tariff increases, so we’re stocking up on what goods we can for now,” Grace Grocery Store owner Leo Li said through an interpreter. Li opened his shop nine years ago shortly after moving to Chicago. He estimates about 95% of his products are Chinese imports, which range from daily necessities like snacks and toiletries to gift shop items for tourists. * Block Club | South Side Neighbors Want Housing Protections Before City OKs ‘Luxury’ Hotel Near Obama Center: Activists aren’t opposed to the hotel “in abstract,” but organizer Dixon Romeo said that it would be unacceptable for City Council to quickly advance a “luxury hotel” while renters and other South Siders await action on the housing ordinance. “There cannot be luxury hotels in our neighborhood until we have protections for all of these people here who make our neighborhood great,” Romeo said. * WBEZ | UIC student has legal status restored, but only after leaving US: “What is going to make it hard for me to choose to come to the U.S. is that anything like this can happen again,” said Lev, an alias WBEZ is using to protect the student’s identity. “I want to make sure that my future is secure, that I am able to study, work and then move onto the next goal that I have in life, instead of having these abrupt situations where I have to completely change tracks.” * Tribune | One mile, more than a dozen Latino-owned cafes: How Pilsen’s coffee culture is growing across 18th Street: A caffeinated tour of Pilsen might start on the east side, slightly off 18th Street at the vibrant La Malinche Coffee & Tea House on Halsted. There, with pink prominent and a bountiful menu, patrons sit and work and chat over sweet Cubano coffees with turkey pesto paninis. Turn onto 18th Street and get a cardamom or panela latte from Anticonquista and take in the leather, wood, revolutionary Central American literature and coffee-roasting equipment. * Sun-Times | Chicago’s Doc10 returns to champion top films as pressure mounts on industry: Chicago’s Doc10 film festival — one of the only documentary-exclusive film fests in the country — is celebrating its 10th anniversary at a high-pressure time for the art form. The festival programs a highly selective list of 10 films and screens them through Sunday. Yet filmmakers say the surge of streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu has shifted demand away from more complex or highly political docs and toward commercialized films featuring cults, pop stars and celebrities. * Tribune | Angel Reese aims to expand her shot profile in Year 2 with Chicago Sky — while continuing to dominate the boards: Two days into the Chicago Sky’s training camp, Angel Reese still hadn’t posted up. It was a distinct shift from Reese’s prior function in Chicago, but the second-year forward knew it was coming. In the first week of camp, new coach Tyler Marsh is tackling one of the most important challenges of his system — how to create enough offensive balance for both of his frontcourt stars to succeed. * Naperville Sun | Naperville advisory board debates how to fill $6.5M budget hole from loss of state grocery tax: Staff presented two possibilities: adopt a 1% city grocery tax or increase Naperville’s home rule sales tax by 0.25%. The board backed neither. Rather, by consensus, members sought more information from staff and agreed to continue the discussion at a special meeting tentatively scheduled for next month. * Daily Herald | ‘Get it done. Please’: Father of teen killed by train implores Barrington officials to install safety gates: “Get it done. Please,” Michael Lacson told trustees at Monday’s committee of the whole meeting. “Somebody already died. It was a ticking time bomb, and unfortunately my daughter was the one who paid for it.” But Barrington officials said progress is being made toward getting the gates put in at the Hough Street crossing and the nearby Main Street/Cook Street crossings. * Daily Herald | Six things you need to know about the Route 53 road construction project: IDOT is dividing up the work in segments. First up is a section from south of Kirchoff Road to south of Rand Road (Route 12), in Rolling Meadows, Palatine and Arlington Heights. Workers will reconstruct and resurface the 6.4-mile stretch, update traffic signals, lighting and drainage. Overnight lane closures will occur between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. but one lane in each direction will be kept open. * Daily Southtown | New owner plans to transform 68-acre property and horse training facility in Crete into men’s rehabilitation center: O’Connor hails from Evanston, but said he fell in love with the south suburbs after entering alcohol abuse recovery in 2016. It took him losing his relationships — his family, friends and employer — to admit he was an alcoholic, O’Connor said. But once he did, he entered a 28-day, in-patient program in Hazel Crest that eventually led him to the horse farm that inspired him to buy the 2400 East Bemes property. He said he plans to flip the farm into a picturesque recovery center where up to 14 men can live and work for as long as they need. * Sun-Times | Testimony begins in ex- Jan. 6 defendant’s murder trial: ‘It was only supposed to be me’: Moments before driving his GMC Sierra the wrong way onto a downstate highway in 2022, Shane Jason Woods complained he’d been in an argument, he faced a decade in prison, and he just wanted to “end it,” a police officer testified Tuesday. […] After the crash, jurors were told, Woods complained “it was only supposed to be me.” * WGLT | Bloomington council passes housing incentive plan, recognizes outgoing members: The incentives will waive some city fees — 50% as a baseline and up to 100% for projects utilizing tax credits. Projects with affordable housing will be allowed extra density, and some may receive a five-year waiver of property taxes. Jurgens said the program will help attract the many types of housing the city needs. * WCIA | Champaign judge reaches verdict in Sooie Bros. lawsuit: One chapter of a legal battle between the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and a local restaurant has come to a close. On Tuesday, a judge ordered that Sooie Bros. BBQ Joint must stay closed until they either comply with the food service plan from 2023 and obtain a walk-in freezer, or until they apply and receive approval for an amended food service plan by CUPHD. * Democracy Docket | Federal election panel chair opposes counting ballots that arrive after Election Day: “There should be a deadline for absentee or mail ballots prior to Election Day and then they should be returned by Election Day,” Donald Palmer, the chair of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), said in a House hearing Tuesday on California’s ballot counting process. Palmer’s comments come after President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on states to no longer accept and count ballots that arrive after Election Day, and signed an executive order last month directing the EAC to withhold federal funding from states that continue to do so. * RTDNA | Good News: TV salaries beat inflation … but just barely: After making up a fair amount of ground a year ago, the latest RTDNA/Newhouse School at Syracuse University Survey found local TV news salaries held their own and then a little more this past year. Salaries rose by 3.2%, edging ahead of inflation, which hit 2.9% for the year. Salaries were up 7.5% in 2023. Median — or typical — salaries are the best gauge, and they show that 14 of the 20 newsroom positions tracked are up in salary compared to the 2024 Survey. Only managing editors, news writers and social media producers/editors decreased in salary. News reporter, MMJ and assignment editor salaries all stayed the same.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Apr 30, 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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