* WBEZ has a report on “trend” meetups in the city, which have sometimes turned violent. Here’s some of it…
[Vondale Singleton, who heads C.H.A.M.P.S] said part of the reason why young people are attracted to these events is because there isn’t a lot to do in their own neighborhoods.
“If you ask a young person on the Southwest Side, ‘Hey, do you go to your local park?’ They say, ‘… [The] reason why I don’t go [is] because I don’t feel safe,’” Singleton said.
A recent WBEZ analysis shows many places of amusement like arcades and bowling alleys in Chicago are mostly located in and around downtown.
After Seandell Holliday was fatally shot last year, the city expanded its citywide curfew hours and increased police presence downtown. But some have questioned how effective the city’s measures have been and who they protect.
Groups like C.H.A.M.P.S and My Block, My Hood, My City have been countering “trend” events with their own organized youth gatherings. And public safety experts and youth advocates have pitched ideas for how to keep the city safe.
A Northwestern Medicine study is shedding light on the impact long COVID-19 has on patients. The study looked at COVID-19 patients cared for in-person and through telehealth since May 2020. Researchers found that among those tested, 85% reported decreased quality of life and 51% said they had cognitive impairment. Long COVID occurs in about a third of COVID survivors and is now the third leading neurologic disorder in the country.
And yet.
* Press release…
Today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched $10 million in funding for the third round of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program provides training opportunities, expands the talent pipeline, and boosts diversity in the construction industry and building trades. Grantees will be selected through a competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) process.
* New flaks…
Governor JB Pritzker announced the following staff transitions on his communications team.
Kamaria Morris will begin a new role as Deputy Communications Director. Morris previously served in Governor Pritzker’s office as Assistant Communications Director, a role she’s held since March of 2022. Prior to her time with the Governor’s Office, Morris was a Public Information Officer for the Illinois Capital Development Board. She also previously served as Assistant Director of Communications/PR at the Erikson Institute; Public Relations Manager at Lyric Opera of Chicago; and Media Coordinator at WCIU-TV. She is a native Chicagoan, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a Master of Arts in Communication from Northern Illinois University.
Alex Gough will begin a new role as Press Secretary. Gough previously served in Governor Pritzker’s office as Senior Deputy Press Secretary, a role he had held since March of 2022. Prior to that, Gough served as member of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus communications team and as a member of the Illinois Senate Democratic Fund’s political team. Gough began his career in politics as a field organizer on Deputy Gov. Andy Manar’s 2018 state Senate campaign. He is a native of Quincy and graduate of Illinois State University.
Olivia Kuncio will serve as Senior Deputy Press Secretary. Kuncio is currently Deputy Press Secretary in Governor Pritzker’s office, a role she has held since March of 2022. Previously, she served as Public Relations Representative for Chicago Public Library. Kuncio is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Communication.
* At least he’ll be out of the gene pool for four years…
JUST IN: Kevin Lyons, of Chicago, sentenced to 51 months in prison for entering Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office on Jan. 6, stealing a staffer’s wallet and a photo of Pelosi with civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis. He texted his friends, “I took this off Pelosi’s f***ing desk!” pic.twitter.com/w2CQ3IeYix
The U.S. House on Friday approved a sweeping annual defense bill that provides an expected 5.2% pay raise for service members but strays from traditional military policy with political add-ons from Republicans to block abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon and transgender issues that deeply divided the chamber.
Chaser from the NRCC…
Today extreme Democrat Eric Sorensen voted against the National Defense Authorization Act, going on record to block funding for the United States military.
Voting against pay raises for our troops and the safety of our country over taxpayer funded late-term abortions and woke transgender ideology is extreme and dangerous.
“Eric Sorensen is following an extreme and dangerous agenda led by the fringe elements of his party that is entirely out of touch with the American people. He needs to answer for why he is willing to put our national security risk for his woke agenda.” — NRCC Spokesman Chris Gustafson
* Probably gonna need a kitty litter box in that laundromat…
A person was seen breaking into a laundromat in Illinois while wearing a bunny suit.
The break-in happened early Thursday at Winners Wash Laundromat in Quincy.
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup…
* Sun-Times | Father of accused Highland Park parade shooter gets a trial date: The father of the alleged Highland Park parade shooter will go on trial Nov. 6 on charges of reckless conduct for signing his son’s application for a firearm owner’s identification card. Lawyers in the case said Friday that they expect the trial to last about one week.
* Tribune | Lingering long COVID looms even as Chicago hospital admissions decline, Northwestern research shows: The directors of the hospital system’s Comprehensive COVID-19 Center released a study Thursday on “long COVID” symptoms. It showed thousands of patients have suffered from a wide array of serious medical issues that highlight the illness’s lasting harm and the importance of a treating long COVID with a multidisciplinary approach, they said.
* Sun-Times | Lori Lightfoot, Ald. Jim Gardiner accused of ethics violations that could trigger fines: In the past 10 years, Chicago’s inspector general has asked the Board of Ethics to find probable cause of an ethics violation only 13 times. Three of those findings were in the last quarter alone. And the targets were former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, newly reelected Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) and a member of the public who allegedly tried and failed to bribe a city inspector.
* Sun-Times | City Council committee tiptoes toward sidewalk snow removal mandate: The City Council’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety on Friday gave a handful of city departments — led by Streets and Sanitation, Transportation, and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities — 60 days to create a working group to study sidewalk snow removal and determine where and how to test the new service, the cost and how to pay for the pilot.
* Crain’s | Kraft Heinz to open $400 million distribution center in DeKalb: The Chicago-based maker of Jell-O, Heinz ketchup and Oscar Mayer hot dogs said it will move into the 775,000-square-foot warehouse in the ChicagoWest Business Center, a 1,200-acre business park in DeKalb, about 65 miles west of Chicago. Expected to open in 2025, the highly automated facility, which will include rail access, will allow Kraft Heinz to speed up delivery of its products to retail and food service customers.
* WBEZ | The county’s first Black trans appointee talks public office, preserving Lake Michigan and her historic first: “I was inspired by former Commissioner Deb Shore. She’s now the Regional Director at the EPA. She was the first lesbian elected in Cook County and represented the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for so many years. And I feel like I stand on her shoulders, as an environmentalist, as a Black trans woman, with the importance of protecting Lake Michigan, which is a part of the largest body of freshwater on Earth.”
* NYT | Education Dept. Cancels $39 Billion in Student Debt for 800,000 Borrowers: The relief will go to those who have federal loans owned directly by the Education Department and who enrolled in income-driven repayment plans or would have qualified for loan forgiveness if they had done so. Those plans cap the payments that borrowers owe to a percentage of their income. Under those plans, borrowers must make payments for a term that is typically 20 or 25 years. At the end of that period, any remaining balance is forgiven.
“I’m opposed to that $75 million tax credit, that [Invest in Kids] school voucher system [that Bruce Rauner has] created, and we should as soon as possible do away with it. What I oppose is taking money out of the public schools, and that’s what happened here.”
The Illinois General Assembly made some major moves on education issues this [2019] legislative session that ended on Sunday, including boosting spending on schools, tackling the state’s teacher shortage and weakening charter schools. Gov. JB Pritzker also retained a private school scholarship program even though he had vowed to end it. […]
The Invest In Kids Act is a five-year pilot that allows people to donate up to $1.3 million to special scholarship funds and in return get a 75% tax credit. Then, students from low- or middle-income families apply for a scholarship to a private school. Of the 7,000 scholarships awarded since 2018, nearly 5,000 winners were low income, the state’s annual report shows. Critics of the program say it diverts taxpayer dollars that could be going to public schools.
Pritzker had originally proposed capping the tax credit program at $50 million dollars during the three-year phase-out, down from $100 million. But late last week, after negotiations, Pritzker agreed to keep the program as long as the state funnels at least $350 million in new dollars into K-12 funding each year.
Pritzker requested tax deductions for donations to the Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship program be reduced from 75% to 40% to save the state $14 million as the state faces a tight budget year after COVID-19 slowed revenue.
* From the coverage of the budget that passed in 2021…
After back-and-forth over whether the state should continue a tax credit scholarship program called Invest in Kids — an earlier proposal from the governor cut the program considerably, down to 40% — legislators agreed to keep the program intact in the final deal they passed. Under the plan, taxpayers will continue to receive an income tax credit for 75% of a qualified donation as in previous years. Republican House leader Jim Durkin called that a victory on Tuesday even as he criticized the last-minute nature of the process.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill yesterday that amends Illinois’ Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship program to protect already-enrolled students. It is effective immediately. […]
Bill 4126, sponsored by state Rep. Curtis Tarver, D-Chicago, grants super-priority status to current recipients of the Invest in Kids scholarship, providing assurance to families in the program that if students receive a scholarship one year, they will be first in line for a scholarship the next year. The legislation also gives schools greater flexibility to offer more partial scholarships. […]
“We’re pleased to see this bill signed into law as these scholarships can be life-changing for low-income families who wish to provide their children an education that fits their unique needs,” said Amy Korte, executive vice president for the Illinois Policy Institute. “The next step is ensuring the program will last beyond another year and can be there for the long term for students in need.”
My main focus with respect to K-12 education is ensuring that there is sufficient funding for all children to receive a quality education, regardless of their zip code. That’s why I’ve dedicated an additional $1.3 billion toward public education during my term. With assurance from the advocates for Invest in Kids that they will support increased public school funding, my budgets have ultimately included the relatively small Invest in Kids Scholarship Program.
I think we should have tax credits that support education and other things in state government, but we also have the federal government willing to cover about 40% of the cost. Why have we created a program in which we’re paying for 75% of it and not having the rest of the country essentially paying 40 percent. This is a problem in the fundamental makeup of it. And I’ve suggested to the General Assembly if they decide to renew Invest in Kids, let’s alleviate the burden on Illinois taxpayers and make sure that, frankly, as other states do, let’s let other states pay in part for the benefit that we get.
Legislators didn’t lift the end-of-year sunset on the Invest in Kids program before they adjourned spring session. Last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said discussions continue.
“I’m willing to work with the program if it gets extended or to figure out how we would wind down the program if it doesn’t get extended,” Pritzker said.
The program is funded with private donations in exchange for a 75% state income tax credit. More than 41,000 students have benefited since the program was started nearly 5 years ago.
Pritzker said “nobody is trying to shut anything down.” […]
“People who say, ‘well, actually it’s not costing taxpayers anything,’ Actually, it’s costing taxpayers 75% of the total amount that gets raised,” Pritzker said. “And so that’s something that I think some people who are budget conscious are paying attention to as well.”
He went from wanting to kill it, to proposing a cap, to fully funding it, to wanting to limit it, to saying he’d keep it and calling it “relatively small,” to saying “some people who are budget conscious” are paying attention to the costs.
I really gotta find a chiropractor.
…Adding… Empower Illinois…
Empower Illinois and the thousands of families and students who rely on the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program for their education are deeply concerned by Governor J.B. Pritzker’s recent remarks stating, ‘I am willing to work with the (tax credit scholarship) program or figure out how to wind down the program if it’s not extended.’
We hope it was only a misstatement from the Governor and not a softening on his commitment to support Illinois’ most vulnerable families.
Governor Pritzker’s inclusion of an option to “wind down” such an impactful program is a departure from his previous statements in late May where he said, ‘If the legislature passes something, I will sign it.’ Ending the Tax Credit Scholarship Program means ripping scholarships away from the most vulnerable, poor, and working-class children and their families. Black and Brown students will be disproportionally impacted if the Tax Credit Scholarship Program is killed by inaction as the Governor suggested, and that is unacceptable.
Announcing any burial plans for a program that has been immensely successful for Illinois children would be beyond premature. We expect lawmakers to do what’s right by children–extend the program, with no cuts, no wind down.
We urge Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to act this fall during Veto Session to immediately extend the Invest in Kids Act Tax Credit Scholarship Program, providing Illinois kids and families with the reassurance and support they so rightly deserve.
* I admit to not following this topic very closely, but it’s generated a lot of heat in my inbox. Here’s a part of a press release from late June…
The Board of Commissioners of the Park District of Tinley Park today joined with elected officials, labor and environmental organizations, community groups, special recreation associations, local officials, and a wide array of supporters to urge Gov. JB Pritzker to sign House Bill 3743 into law. The bill, passed by the Illinois General Assembly in May, would turn over the site of the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center to the Park District to finally begin cleanup and redevelopment of the long-vacant land.
Joining the Park District Board of Commissioners at a press conference today were Sen. Michael Hastings and Reps. Robert Rita, Debbie Meyers-Martin, and Justin Slaughter, as well as representatives of the Cook County Building Trades Council, Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sierra Club, Illinois Environmental Council, South Suburban Special Recreation Association, Lincolnway Special Recreation Association, Tinley Park Bulldogs, Moraine Valley Community College, local youth organizations, south suburban school boards, and south suburban area park districts.
* Jeff Vorva, who writes for the Southland edition of The Times of Northwest Indiana, finally explained it to me…
A bill awaiting the signature of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker would sell 90 acres for $1 to the park district for a mammoth sports complex. […]
[A Pritzker spokesperson] confirmed the governor received a letter from the park district supporting the bill as well as a letter from the village asking that it be killed. […]
[Mayor Michael Glotz ] added that it only wants both parties to agree that neither the village nor the park district should own the land so residents can get a piece of a possible $8 million in real estate tax revenue.
“Without a TIF (tax-increment financing) and the way the bill was written, it can never be used for anything other than public use. It will be a financial disaster,” he said.
The park district isn’t slamming the door on an IGA.
“An IGA was possible and is still possible, but we need leadership on the village’s end to work together, not divide,” Park District Commissioner Lisa O’Donovan said via a public relations firm. O’Donovan did express disappointment that this has not happened up to this point.
So, what seems to be happening is that the legislature weighed in on the side of the park district, and the governor, by all appearances, appears to be waiting to see if the locals can work out a deal.
The mayor is claiming that the area will lose $8 million in property tax revenue if it’s sold for a dollar to the park district because the legislation says the land “shall be used for public purposes only.” If there’s no private ownership, there’s no tax revenues. But if you read the whole thing, the mayor has obviously made some enemies along the way.
…Adding… Heard from some folks involved, and, whew, this mayor has really made a whole lot of hardcore enemies. So, nevermind about the suggestion.
Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease eight years ago, is stepping down from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the influential Chicago-based civil rights organization he founded through its predecessor, Operation PUSH, more than 50 years ago.
After ceding day-to-day operations last year, Jackson, 81, is formally handing the reins to a successor who is expected to be announced this weekend at the annual Rainbow/PUSH convention, sources close to the organization said Friday.
Headquartered in a former temple in the Kenwood neighborhood on the South Side, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition has long been Jackson’s national advocacy platform to promote economic, educational and political change, including two groundbreaking campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 1980s.
Now the organization’s mission, and its future, will be vested in new hands.
One of his sons, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., said Friday there “is a determination made that in his current health and condition that he has appointed a successor and will formally announce it Sunday.” […]
The representative said his father “has forever been on the scene of justice and has never stopped fighting for civil rights” and that will be “his mark upon history.” […]
Jackson’s public activism began decades ago, when he was one of the “Greenville Eight,” a group of Black students (Jackson was a college freshman at North Carolina A&T) protesting at the whites-only public library in Greenville, South Carolina, where Jackson grew up.
In the years since, he remained active in the movement, formed Operation PUSH in 1971, ran for president twice and has, multiple times, successfully negotiated for the release of U.S. citizens being held hostage abroad. The Rainbow Coalition, which grew out of his 1984 presidential campaign, merged with PUSH in 1996.
Jackson, who was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017, made the announcement on the weekly PUSH broadcast and afterward to volunteers working on the 57th annual convention, being held from July 15 to July 19. The theme of the international convention is “The Perilous Journey From Freedom to Equality.”
During the convention on Monday, July 17, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jackson will receive the highest civilian award from the country of Colombia. Two years ago he received a similar award from France. The award presentation will take place at the University of Chicago’s David Rubinstein Forum, 1201 E. 60th St.
“It is quite impactful to have nations to reward Reverend Jackson for his global work. It is a testament to his day-to-day tenacity,” said Bishop Tavis Grant, acting national executive director of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. […]
On Friday, July 14, at 6 p.m., and Saturday, July 15, at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Jackson will be honored for his 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Delegates from around the country are coming, and we’re excited,” said Grant, who in 1984 was a student organizer. In 1988, Grant participated in the “Jackson Action” campaign run by Jesse Jackson, Jr.
On Saturday, Grant said, “There will be a reunion of campaign workers, people who through sweat, energy and commitment believed in the campaign of Reverend Jackson and the Jackson doctrine we call progressive politics today.”
The news of Jackson’s resignation comes as the Rainbow PUSH Coalition prepares to host their annual international convention at the University of Chicago’s David Rubinstein Forum this weekend.
The 81-year-old said he plans to announce the new president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition within the next few weeks.
Jackson created Operation PUSH in 1971 in an effort to improve the economic and political lives of Black Americans.
Jackson went on to found the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984, after his first run for president. The group was formed to seek equal rights for all Americans, and to demand social programs, voting rights, and affirmative action for minorities left out by “Reaganomics,” according to the Rainbow/PUSH website.
The two nonprofits merged in 1996 with Jackson at the helm.
…Adding… Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson…
“The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson is an architect of the soul of Chicago. Through decades of service, he has led the Rainbow PUSH Coalition at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights and social justice. His faith, his perseverance, his love, and his relentless dedication to people inspire all of us to keep pushing for a better tomorrow.
The reverend is a mentor, and a friend, and I thank him for all he has done for the people of our city, and our country.”
* Press release excerpt from NRDC, Sierra Club Illinois and the Respiratory Health Association…
Recent record-breaking spikes in dangerous air pollutants from wildfire smoke underscore the urgent need for regulations to address the outsized impacts of diesel pollution on air quality, which underpinned the unhealthy air days Illinoisans suffered in June. The health impacts of diesel pollution in Illinois are well documented. Fossil fuel-powered trucks emit fine particulate pollution (PM) and smog-forming gasses (NOx). These pollutants lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases—including asthma, lung cancer, heart attacks, and strokes—and can cause premature death. […]
Climate change and global warming have caused months of weather extremes across the country. In Illinois, transportation is the biggest contributor to climate change. Transportation emissions are also a leading driver of dangerous ozone and particulate matter pollution in the state, a constant threat that contributed to Chicago experiencing the worst air quality globally last month.
“Climate change exacerbates the threat of extreme heat and wildfires, both of which compound existing air quality issues here in Illinois,” said Anastasia Montgomery, a PhD Candidate of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Northwestern University. “Enacting these clean truck safeguards will increase our climate resilience while also ensuring an equitable transition to zero-emission trucks that will benefit the communities most impacted. The urgency of this work cannot be overstated. That’s why we are asking the Governor to act now.”
“Our climate cannot wait; our communities cannot wait. Governor Pritzker, you have the power to implement clean truck rules in Illinois,” said J.C. Kibbey, senior Illinois clean energy advocate at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “You have the power to give us cleaner air to breathe, a healthier climate to pass to our children. We ask you today to use that power.”
California’s Advanced Clean Trucks rule would increase the percentage of new zero-emission truck sales through 2035…
Explanation of California’s Heavy-Duty Omnibus from the NRDC…
Heavy-duty vehicles are the biggest source of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in California, emitting nearly a third of all NOx pollution, as well as over a fourth of diesel particulate matter (PM). NOx contributes to smog and secondary PM, which, along with primary PM emissions, are associated with increased risk of premature deaths, hospitalization, and ER visits. Numerous respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are linked to these pollutants such as asthma, decreased lung function, heart attacks, and lung cancer. […]
The Omnibus rule will cut NOx emissions from heavy-duty trucks by roughly 75% below current standards beginning in 2024 and 90% in 2027. In addition to cleaning up NOx, the Omnibus rule looks to institutionalize PM pollution controls and prevent backsliding by adopting a more stringent standard that aligns with current industry certifications. These reductions add up to $36 billion in statewide health benefits from 3,900 avoided premature deaths and 3,150 hospitalizations from 2022 to 2050.
Don Schaefer, executive vice president of the Mid-West Truckers Association, said modern trucks run much cleaner than in the past.
“Are we reducing emissions, we’ve reduced emissions by 90% on most diesel trucks over the last 20 years, so there is progress being made,” Schaefer told The Center Square. […]
Andrew Boyle from the American Trucking Association told a Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee in April that more thought needs to go into the process of mandating electric semi-trucks.
“In Illinois, a facility teed up 30 trucks for electrification, and the city of Joliet came back and said this is some kind of joke. You’re asking for more draw than the city requires,” said Boyle.
According to the ATA, a clean diesel truck can spend 15 minutes fueling anywhere in the country and then travel about 1,200 miles before fueling again. In contrast, today’s long-haul battery electric trucks have a range of about 150-330 miles and can take up to 10 hours to charge.
I couldn’t find confirmation for the claim that diesel emissions were reduced by 90 percent in the last 20 years. Maybe some of you can. Eleven years ago, the Diesel Technology Forum made the claim that emissions had already been reduced by 99 percent for NOx and 98 percent for particulate emissions in ten years.
Um, no. That website never operates “fine.” C’mon.
The server often can’t handle simple tasks like seeing all House election results on the same page or putting contributions in the order of highest to lowest. When it glitches, which is just about constantly, you get sent to the main page and have to try again. It’s totally ridiculous. No other state website is that flawed.
Also, while we’re at it, why does it give me lowest to highest contributions when I first try to sort them? Who cares about $1 contributions? If I’m sorting by amount, I want to see the highest contributions first. It makes no sense. And then when you try to re-sort them, chances are good that you’ll be sent to the home page again.
* And as long as I’m venting, what’s with the weird, decades-long commitment to javascript on links? The board did finally move away from pure javascript, but it’s still pervasive. I’ll give you an example. Click here for the election results page. Now, use the pull-down menu to access the 2022 results. Now, try to open the categories in a new tab. Doesn’t work. This is what comes up for the “Judicial” link: javascript:__doPostBack(’ctl00$ContentPlaceHolder1$lnkSenate’,'’)
*facepalm*
I have been complaining about that website since the 1990s. It’s always been janky and is too-often offline. Stop telling us that things are fine.
* And just in case somebody wants to make snarky comments about the construction of this ol’ Capitol Fax blog, I’d point out that, while it may not be the prettiest, most ultra-modern site on the planet, it works.
* Quad-City Times | Charlie Helmick to run for Illinois 72nd House District: Democratic Rep. Gregg Johnson currently represents the 72nd House District. Johnson was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in November, 2022, replacing Democratic Sen. Mike Halpin who held the house seat since 2017 before running for the Illinois 36th Senate District.
* SJ-R | Illinois Freedom Caucus rallies behind 16-year-old swimmer who claims she was kicked off team: Abbigail Wheeler of Loami said she also was banned from the YMCA after making and posting signs in the women’s locker room she was told amounted to “hate speech.” […] “No one is forced to use any space in our facility that makes them uncomfortable,” said Lou Bart, a spokesman for the YMCA. “We offer multiple options for private changing spaces and restrooms for all members.”
* SJ-R | Bailey’s back. Who else is running for Congress in Illinois?: As of Monday, there have been 40 candidates in the state’s 17 congressional districts who have filed with FEC. […] Budzinski has company with one named opponent that she’ll likely face in November 2024. Republican challenger Joshua Loyd, a 24-year-old from Carbondale, filed with the FEC in March and is centering his campaign on agriculture, maintaining social security and strengthening national security per his website.
* Sun-Times | 3 finalists picked for job of Chicago police superintendent: A civilian commission narrowed the field to Angel Novalez, Shon Barnes and Larry Snelling. Mayor Brandon Johnson now has 30 days to either choose one or reject them all and order the panel to launch another search.
* Tribune | Feds investigating possible minority-contracting fraud involving city deals worth millions: The ongoing investigation is targeting possible fraud in the minority-owned business programs in the city of Chicago and other municipalities, sources with knowledge of the probe told the Tribune. No criminal charges have been filed, but the investigation has been active in recent weeks, with several people being approached by law enforcement, the sources said.
* Crain’s | Northwestern trustees face a reckoning amid football hazing scandal: Attention now shifts to a 70-member board of trustees packed with local luminaries, underscoring Northwestern’s importance to Chicago as a global city. Trustees include retired Abbott Laboratories CEO Miles White, Rocky Wirtz of Wirtz Corp. and the Chicago Blackhawks, Baxter International CEO José Almeida, and investment honchos Michael Sacks of GCM Grosvenor and Madison Dearborn co-president Timothy Sullivan. Among 78 life trustees are megadonor Patrick Ryan of insurance broker Ryan Specialty and fellow billionaires, real estate mogul Neil Bluhm and industrialist Lester Crown.
* Crain’s | Northwestern head baseball coach Jim Foster is out: Reports surfaced on Monday that Foster, who was in his first year as coach, was the subject of a human resources investigation over accusations of abuse and bullying from former players. Three days later, he was out. “This has been an ongoing situation and many factors were considered before reaching this resolution,” Gragg said in the statement. “As the Director of Athletics, I take ownership of our head coaching hires and we will share our next steps as they unfold.”
* Crain’s | NASCAR event a mixed bag for Loop restaurants: Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, said road closures kept people away from downtown — and therefore from restaurants in the area. He said a number of association members didn’t see sales increase over the race weekend, despite fans displaced by rain.
* Sun-Times | Trio of piping plover chicks released at Montrose Beach: The three chicks, named Searocket, Prickly Pear and Wild Indigo, have been exploring their new environment at Montrose Beach. Their names are a nod to the native plants in the Montrose Beach Dunes Natural Area.
Two decades after Illinois began collecting and analyzing data about traffic stops, Black and Latino drivers continue to be stopped at higher rates across the state according to the 2022 Illinois Traffic and Pedestrian Stop Study Act data released this week.
Statewide in Illinois, Black drivers were 1.7 times more likely to be stopped by police than white drivers. Traffic stops increased in 2022 by more than 20% compared to 2021, with an additional 1000 stops statewide each day.
“We have had no shortage of wonderful ideas and applications that have come in from Illinois and Chicago for grants we have underway . . . thanks to President Biden’s infrastructure program,” [US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg] said Monday night during a conversation with former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker as part of TechChicago Week. “I would add that under the governor’s leadership, the state is putting up a lot.”
“Lest anybody get caught in the framework that says, ‘Why are we investing as a state if the federal government is going to come anyway?’ — the more the state puts forward, the better partner we can be. The more matching there is, the more gets done,” Buttigieg said. “A state that understands the importance of infrastructure is a critical part of all of this.”
* Press release…
State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville), and State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) held a press conference on Wednesday where they issued new demands for joint hearings of the Illinois House and Senate Human Services and Mental and Behavioral Health Committees after news reports surfaced this week detailing horrific instances of abuse, neglect, sexual assault, and torture of individuals living in Illinois-run facilities serving developmentally disabled citizens.
In February 2023, every member of the House and Senate Republican Caucuses signed on to a letter demanding joint committee hearings to investigate reports of abuse and neglect at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center. This week, ProPublica released shocking details of the abuse of residents living in state care at multiple facilities.
Senator Terri Bryant signed the original letter demanding hearings into Choate and participated in Wednesday’s press conference. Bryant said the Pritzker Administration must answer questions.
“Republicans have consistently called for joint, public, bicameral hearings of the committees charged with overseeing our facilities that serve the developmentally disabled to get answers on the record from administration officials as to what is being done to stop these horrific abuses,” Bryant said. “I am now repeating my demand for public hearings, and I believe new leadership is needed in many facilities, especially at Choate.”
* From an INA media alert…
INA Nurses Protest at Ludeman Developmental Center
WHAT: Dozens of nurses employed by Ludeman Developmental Center, and their union colleagues and supporters will protest unfair labor conditions and unsafe work conditions.
WHEN: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 18th, 2023.
WHERE: Ludeman Developmental Center, 114 N Orchard Dr, Park Forest, IL 60466
WHO: Nurses represented by the Illinois Nurses Association will protest the Ludeman Center management
BACKGROUND: The Ludemann Developmental Center treats adults 18 and over who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. INA members are protesting to fight for a fair contract at Ludeman Developmental Center. According to steward Marika Loftman-Davis, RN, INA nurses worked through the COVID-19 pandemic for years with little to no thanks from the State of Illinois. “People say that nurses are heroes, but now they need to give us a fair contract that actually acknowledges the work we did for our state,” Loftman-Davis said.
“Management needs to bring our facility into the 21st century and provide us with the resources we need to care for our patients. They need to pay us a living wage and provide us with benefits so that nurses can stay their whole career at Ludeman.” Nurses at Ludeman will also be protesting unfair treatment at the Center, and demanding a fair contract that honors nurses’ years of experience working through the pandemic.
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”) announced today the results of the Social Equity Criteria Lottery (“SECL”) for 55 Conditional Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary Licenses. Almost 2,700 applicants participated in the lottery, which was held in conjunction by IDFPR and the Illinois Lottery. Before Conditional Licenses are issued, the Department will initiate a review process to ensure applicants selected meet all statutorily required rules. Once confirmed, the Department will issue a Conditional License. The results of the SECL may be found online here and below.
But they’re being awarded at a time when new entrants are struggling in Illinois and elsewhere to raise the estimated $500,000 to more than $1 million required to set up a pot shop. So far a little more than two dozen of the 192 licensees have opened stores.
The two locations illustrate the extent to which Biden administration officials have begun transforming the way asylum seekers and migrants are processed along the southern border since May 11, when the White House lifted the pandemic policy known as Title 42. The policy had allowed quick expulsions of migrants who entered the United States illegally but no penalty for those who tried to get in again and again.
Now the administration is allowing tens of thousands of migrants to enter the United States legally each month through the mobile app CBP One, while those who don’t follow the rules face ramped-up deportations and tougher penalties.
The preliminary result is a nearly 70 percent drop in illegal entries since early May, according to the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.
* Press release…
Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) issued the following statement in support of a young girl from the Springfield, Illinois area who was kicked off her swim team for objecting to men using the girls’ locker room.
During a raucous press conference today, the teenage girl’s father admitted that she was not kicked off the team and that he refused a meeting with the Y because he could not bring others with them, including a leader of an anti-trans group. And the girl told reporters today that she never saw the person in a state of undress, so we don’t really even know if the person was born a biological male. The father would not allow her to answer questions about whether she felt threatened or if the person was leering at her. The YMCA issued a statement about this last month.
Bost campaign manager Myles Nelson said the result proves “that Republican voters are happy with the job Mike Bost is doing.”
“At a time when no one can agree on anything, only 8% disapprove of the job he’s doing in Congress,” Nelson said. “Mike also holds an outside the margin of error lead against a candidate who JB Pritzker spent $30 million supporting in an effort to convince Illinois Republicans to vote for him just last year. We’re happy with where we’re at and know we will have the resources to continue building our support moving forward.”
Bailey’s campaign did not immediately return a request for comment.
* The Illinois Policy Institute is recruiting legislative candidates again…
The ads link here. Their recruits didn’t do so well last year.
* From the ward commiteeperson meeting earlier this week which chose Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez’s favored candidate Natalie Toro for state Senate…
35th Ward committeeperson Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa joined many progressive ward organizations in the district in backing Guzmán. He hammered Toro on Monday for her association with the police union, and for mailers sent in support of her campaign for the County Board by a political action committee funded in large part by the FOP. […]
Toro said she was glad Ramirez-Rosa asked her about the FOP connection, then promptly distanced herself as much as she could from Catanzara.
“I think, maybe naively as a first-time candidate, I was under the impression that any candidate should go to a labor union to earn the support of the rank-and-file members of the union,” she said. “I in no way agree with any of the views of their homophobic, racist leader.”
Totally believable. That link leads to a photo taken during a Martinez fundraiser last year.
* Still “fittin’ to get ready” after almost two years…
State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is set to attend the first public meeting of Illinois’ Warehouse Safety Standards Task Force on July 18 at Birger Hall on the campus of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) at 10 a.m. The meeting is open to the public.
“Nobody should be injured or lose their life because the building they are working in isn’t built to keep them safe in the event of a completely foreseeable hazard. But that’s just what happened in our community on December 10, 2021 when an Amazon facility collapsed and killed six people,” Stuart said. “That’s why I’ve since led the way in the creation of this task force, and why I asked to be appointed to it. I’m looking forward to beginning the process of better protecting Illinois’ working families.”
On December 10, 2021, an EF-3 tornado struck the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville while workers inside scrambled to find safety and both management and safety procedures proved tragically ineffective. One of the building’s two restrooms was equipped as a storm shelter and the six who were killed had taken shelter in the other restroom. The warehouse suffered a direct hit and was destroyed.
Among issues that authorities examined in the aftermath were the lack of a plan tailored to the region, the fact that emergency equipment was inaccessible due to being kept locked up and that many workers did not recall having been asked to complete required training on what to do in an emergency.
Ultimately, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found that Amazon did not technically violate the law, but issued a Hazard Alert Letter identifying several recommended changes it said the company should consider making.
“Six people were killed in this incident, so the fact that no violations could technically be identified despite that is not comforting—it shows that we have a problem,” Stuart said. “That’s why the work of this task force is so crucial. Illinois needs a building code that will keep workers safe and families whole, and we have until the current code expires in 2025 to make sure we have one.”
Sangamon and Menard County Crime Stoppers are seeking information to assist police on a large disturbance on July 8 at the State House Inn located at 101 E. Adams St. in Springfield.
Police located a large crowd fighting in the middle of the road and later determined multiple crimes occurred resulting in multiple injuries. One victim was stabbed and others were battered. The victims were treated at local hospitals.
No suspects have been identified and no photographs are currently available.
The way Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher figures it, economic incentives available to the owner of the Wyndham City Centre hotel for a proposed $58 million renovation total about half of what the previous mayor estimated.
Rather than the $18.75 million in tax-related incentives described by former mayor Jim Langfelder, Buscher said the assistance package of property, hotel-motel and sales taxes instead would add up to $9 million or $10 million.
“The incentives that were offered before just simply are not there financially,” Buscher told Illinois Times after a City Council meeting in June.
The reason for the math discrepancy is unclear. It’s also unclear whether the reduced number is the reason Wyndham owner Al Rajabi and his associates at Tower Capital Group – also referred to as Sky Capital – haven’t returned to the city with a reaction or counteroffer.
They should capitalize the L in their name they take so many.
— The People’s Fabric (@peoplesfabric) July 13, 2023
Ouch.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Sun-Times | Amid hazing scandal, Northwestern has another conflict on its board of trustees: Michael Wilbon worked for the Washington Post for 30 years, first as a sports reporter, then as a sports columnist. Later, he added ESPN to his resume, co-hosting “Pardon the Interruption” with Post colleague Tony Kornheiser. Then he joined “NBA Countdown” as an analyst. […] While school president Michael Schill pens drawn-out statements and athletic director Derrick Gragg keeps himself on mute, Wilbon stands on his purple pulpit, mourning what the university has lost and espousing what it still can be.
* Sun-Times | Surely, with all the recent rain, the region’s drought is over? Nope: “It’s definitely made a huge dent,” said Trent Ford, a climatologist with the University of Illinois. “What we really want to see more of is consistent, moderate rain totals. We probably don’t want to see the 8 inches of rain in a single day … because in that situation, the first maybe inch or 2 soaks in, helps the soil, and the rest just runs off.”
* AP | Illinois surveys storm damage after multiple suspected tornadoes hit Chicago, suburbs : Four teams from the weather service headed out Thursday morning to survey storm damage reported Wednesday across numerous areas of the Chicago metropolitan area and points farther west to determine if tornadoes caused that damage, said Zachary Yack, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Chicago area office.
* AP | First over-the-counter birth control pill gets FDA approval: The Food and Drug Administration cleared once-a-day Opill to be sold without a prescription, making it the first such medication to be moved out from behind the pharmacy counter. The manufacturer, Ireland-based Perrigo, won’t start shipping the pill until early next year, and there will be no age restrictions on sales.
* Crain’s | Durbin letter to Supreme Court Historical Society is the latest volley in SCOTUS ethics battle: This week, Durbin wrote to the head of the Supreme Court Historical Society demanding information on how the society provides access between justices and donors. The letter prominently cites a Dec. 30, 2022, report by The New York Times that shows that since 2003, the society has raised more than $6.4 million—or 60 percent of its total donations—from corporations, interest groups or lawyers and firms that had cases before the court. The newspaper highlighted how the contributions gave donors access to the society’s events, most notably its annual dinner when several of the justices typically interact with society members.
* Tribune | How the Double Duty Classic connects Chicago’s rich baseball past with its future: When the story of organized professional Black baseball is told, people typically start in Kansas City, Mo. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is there and it is where Andrew “Rube” Foster famously assembled owners of six Black baseball teams from Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City and St. Louis and Dayton, Ohio, at the Paseo YMCA to form what became known as the Negro National League in February 1920. And while Kansas City’s role is important, Chicago’s role cannot be overlooked.
* SJ-R | Larry Werries, who served as state ag director under Thompson, dies at 83: During his time as state ag director, Werries served as Chairman of the Midwest Directors followed by two terms as President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). After leaving the Thompson administration, Werries served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the USDA in Washington, D.C., under President George H.W. Bush. Werries was the liaison between the USDA and units of state and local government.
* Vox | Hollywood’s historic double strike, explained: Like the WGA strike, a SAG-AFTRA strike comes with profound economic consequences. The WGA’s picket lines have already managed to shut down most productions in New York and Los Angeles and across the country as crew members refuse to cross. Since SAG-AFTRA represents 160,000 members — “actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists, and other media professionals,” as their website puts it — a strike would have profound effects on many industries. (By contrast, the WGA, which has just entered day 73 of its strike, has around 20,000 members.)
* CNN | This year’s Amazon Prime Day was the biggest in company history: Amazon said July 11 was the single largest sales day in the company’s history, but declined to provide totals. Shoppers bought 375 million items across the two days, up from 300 million last year during the sales promotion.
* Illinois Times | Revitalizing Robin Roberts Stadium: The crack of a bat, the cheer of a crowd and smiles exchanged between a grandparent and child weave a tapestry of memories on Springfield’s north end. But that tapestry is getting frayed and the future of Robin Roberts Stadium is being pondered. Is it a valued amenity or white elephant?
* WCIA | Springfield man killed in I-70 bus crash: State Police : Officials said the Greyhound bus was going from Indianapolis to St. Louis. The bus was passing through Madison County just before 2 a.m. on Wednesday when it hit three semi-trucks. The trucks were parked on the right shoulder near the entrance to the rest stop.
* ABC | Illinois State Fair introduces Sunflower Hours for a sensory-friendly experience: The fair said a variety of free entertainment options will be available within this timeframe to enable families with special needs to visit and experience the fair. There will be a silent dance party from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Reisch Pavillion. Wireless headphones will be sanitized between uses with new playlists starting every 20 minutes.
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan and former Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, to discuss Japan’s role supporting Ukraine and the greater U.S.-Japanese alliance. During the meeting, they also discussed China’s actions in the region.
Last week, our office returned the largest PayPal account to date, resulting in $121,000 returned to the owner through the Unclaimed Property program. More than 340,000 PayPal accounts remain to be claimed. Find your lost account at https://t.co/uXQqcXH85K#unclaimedmoney#twill
— Treasurer Michael Frerichs (@ILTreasurer) July 11, 2023
OK, now please click here and then tell us if you or a loved one has any unclaimed property.
…Adding… The treasurer’s office monitored comments today…
Rich,
Thanks for posting. Every bit helps get the word out about the Unclaimed Property program. We continue to try to make it easier, such as…
We have worked with the General Assembly to change the law and the rules to make it easier to claim your money. Today, if you are claiming your money and no item is $5,000 or more, we use an automated process to review the claim. The majority of people will receive an email indicating that the claim was approved and to expect a check. Very few people need to send paperwork.
In the fiscal year that just ended, we paid more than 200,000 claims. Roughly 150,000 of those were paid with no paper from the owner, or about 75 percent of the time. The owner either simply completed the online claim form or we matched them with records and mailed them a check without requiring a claim. To put that in perspective, in FY2003 (the first year the Treasurer’s Office had computerized records) there were a total of 25,000 claims paid. In FY2015, there were roughly 60,000 claims paid.
A few folks mentioned that they don’t bother with small dollar amounts. If they have two minutes, they really should fill out the online form. About 90 percent of the items turned over to the Treasurer’s Office as unclaimed property are $100 or less. And we have been working very hard to make it much easier to claim these funds.
Now if you are claiming money as an heir, it is a bit more complicated (families can be complicated). We try to make sure we are paying the right person – after all, the only thing worse than not paying someone quickly is paying someone who is not legally entitled to the money.
But, with the help of the General Assembly, we now have a more streamlined process for heir claims under $250. Basically, you complete and mail in a notarized affidavit that you are one of the legal heirs and you list the other heirs. You agree to distribute the money to the other heirs. That’s it.
Finally, we recently added a “share” function. You can look up your friends and family. If you find something that belongs to them, there is now an integrated way to send them an email or a text with a link so that they can claim their money.
One-party claims are the easiest. Claims involving the death of a family member, unfortunately, will require additional work depending on the circumstances. At the end of the day, accuracy and efficiency always will be our focus.
* I interviewed Lt. Gov. Stratton in mid-June about her very first fundraiser since being elected statewide. We also talked about her future plans. Politico did a story about it over the break…
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is fundraising, though she’s not committing to running for any particular office.
In a recent interview with your Playbook host, Stratton didn’t rule out a future run for office, adding she’s only focused on the job she already has.
As lieutenant governor, Stratton would be a likely candidate to run for the state’s top job should Gov. JB Pritzker not seek a third term in 2026.
For now: Stratton is making moves to build up her campaign fund, which has been virtually empty since she left the Illinois General Assembly to join Pritzker’s 2018 campaign.
The big kahuna: Fred Eyechaner, who heads Newsweb Corp. and is a national Democratic megadonor, recently plunked $6,900 on Stratton, according to filings with the State Board of Elections. He’s one of a dozen big donors to donate to Stratton’s political campaign fund in recent weeks.
I dunno about governor. If Pritzker doesn’t run for a third term, I’d assume Alexi Giannoulias, Susana Mendoza and others will be elbowing hard. We’ll see, but some prime down-ballot spots could open up.
And, of course, we don’t yet know what Pritzker’s plans are. I mentioned in my own piece that he was seen by some as a bit of a lame duck and wound up getting a blistering earful for broaching that topic. Heh. Won’t be the last time. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
By the way, you’ve probably noticed by now that no statewide offices are on the ballot next year. The last time I remember this happening was 2000. It was so dead around here that I went to Europe for two months during the summer of 1999 and then to Cuba with Gov. George Ryan and several others (no blog duties back then). [A commenter correctly points out that there was no statewide election in 2012. Somehow, I got by.]
* The Question: I know it’s very early and we don’t even know what the field will look like, but it’s summer and there’s not a heck of a lot going on right now, so what office would you recommend LG Stratton pursue in 2026? Explain.
Residents in the Chicago area took shelter and kept a watchful eye on ominous skies for hours Wednesday as tornadoes whipped through the area.
The National Weather Service confirmed numerous tornadoes moved through the area at about 7 p.m, prompting a tornado warning for Cook County and tornado watch for surrounding counties. […]
On a scale of 0-5, the severe weather threat was categorized as a 3 by the weather service early Wednesday evening. […]
City officials request that residents refrain from using extra water for showers, laundry or household chores to ease pressure on the city’s wastewater system. Residents can report a backup of water in their homes or businesses by calling 311 or going to 311.chicago.gov to report water in basements, standing water in streets and viaduct flooding.
At least one tornado was confirmed as having touched down near O’Hare International Airport, according to the National Weather Service. The poor weather briefly grounded all flights at O’Hare and Midway airports, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
While the weather service hadn’t confirmed any other tornadoes, fire officials in Elgin were on the scene of a suspected tornado touchdown that damaged 30 homes.
A NWS meteorologist also confirmed storm damage in the west suburbs, including Countryside, Elgin and Lily Lake. The worst damage near Chicago was a “roof off” in Huntley. […]
ComEd reported outages affecting more than 10,000 customers in the area with the biggest cluster of outages taking place in the East Garfield Park area, where two outages affected 515 customers.
A fast-moving line of storms is believed to have spawned at least one unverified tornado as it moved through the Elgin area Wednesday night and damaged as more than two dozen buildings, officials said. […]
Dave Hoyne, who lives in the area near South Street and Shadow Hill Drive in Elgin, said he initially was watching the storm from the lower level of his home when he saw things change dramatically in a short span of time.
“It went from a very light rain to very intense rain very quickly, and then all of a sudden the phone started beeping (with) tornado warnings,” Hoyne said.
His wife, Kyla, ran upstairs to get their cat so they could take shelter in the basement.
“(Kyla) looked out the window, which faces toward the south, and said, ‘Oh, my god, look at that. It’s a tornado,’” he said.
The National Weather Service confirmed early Thursday morning that “multiple tornadoes tracked across Northeastern Illinois” Wednesday, causing extensive damage to homes, yards, businesses and more across Chicago suburbs including Elgin, Campton Hills, Rosemont, Huntley, Carol Stream, Hodgkins and more.
“Between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12, multiple tornadoes tracked across Northeast Illinois, some in very close proximity to one another,” a tweet from the NWS said. “These were spawned by rotating thunderstorms known as supercells.” […]
According to the NWS, the total number of tornado touchdowns from Wednesday has yet to be finalized, adding that a final number count should be completed as the week goes on. […]
During the storm, the NWS and the NBC 5 Storm Team confirmed some tornado touchdowns, including a “large and extremely dangerous” tornado in southern Cook County moving towards Chicago. Approximately 30 minutes later, the NWS reported a touchdown near O’Hare International Airport, where more than 300 flights were canceled.
* More coverage…
* NBC Chicago | Hodgkins, Illinois faces major storm damage following severe weather, suspected tornadoes: Several Chicago suburbs are facing extensive storm damage cleanup after “multiple tornadoes” tracked across Northeast Illinois Wednesday, leaving roofs ripped off homes, massive trees uprooted, car windows blown out, debris from shopping centers strewn across parking lots and more. Sandra Torres reports from Hodgkins.
* Patch | Where Storm Hit Burr Ridge The Most: Wednesday night’s storm was brief, causing the most damage in Burr Ridge near 73rd and 74th streets, between Forest Hill and Wolf roads, the village said in a statement. Overall, the village said the damage was minimal. It advised people to refrain from approaching or touching any downed power lines.
* Fox 2 Now | Clean up and power restoration from storm damage in Missouri and Illinois: As the force of the storms downed several power lines in the area, Ameren Missouri is reporting that more than 10,000 customers are still without power Thursday morning. Half of those customers are in St. Louis County, the others affected were St. Louis City, St. Francois County, and Washington County.
* Daily Herald | Apparent twin tornadoes in Kane County, touchdowns in Streamwood, near O’Hare among storms: The tornado by O’Hare was “touching the ground intermittently” about 7 p.m. and moving east, according to a tweet from the weather service, with “additional circulations” south of O’Hare. Cook County had been under a tornado warning after a separate tornado was confirmed by the weather service east of South Elgin, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
* Tribune | In fight for Illinois Senate seat, divisions among Democrats on display: The high emotions and big crowd that jammed into the Hamlin Park field house Monday to see Democratic Party insiders name a 20th District replacement for Cristina Pacione-Zayas prove the importance the posts have for some residents, and for a party that’s continuing to separate along ideological lines, with various factions looking to exert their power.
* WAND | Pandemic unemployment benefits: IL Auditor General breaks down latest IDES audit: The Auditor General’s office found IDES didn’t create an audit trail to properly document claims according to federal standards. Auditor General Frank Mautino told WAND News that his team requested this data to determine if claimants were eligible for benefits or acting fraudulently.
* Record North Shore | Wilmette officials hear Ryan Field opposition ‘loud and clear’: Ten residents addressed the Wilmette Village Board during its Tuesday, July 11 meeting to express their opposition to the school’s proposed plans to reimagine Ryan Field and urge trustees to dispute potential zoning changes under consideration by Evanston officials.
* Tribune | Asylum-seekers denounce treatment at Pilsen shelter and deliver letter to mayor; alderman denies allegations: On Wednesday morning, Falcon and a group of mostly migrant mothers went to City Hall and attempted to deliver a handwritten letter to Mayor Brandon Johnson, in which they detailed their concerns and living conditions. Those included prohibiting children from drinking bottled water and eating fresh food donations; forcing asylum-seekers, including a family, out of the shelter without a place to go after alleged rule violations; and failing to provide guidance to find permanent housing.
* WCIA | Illinois will not have a sales tax holiday for school supplies this year: “Depending on how many children you have, or just what your budget can contain, and with household things that are all costing a lot more these days as well, rent, Tiffany Mathis-Posey, CEO of Central Illinois Boy’s and Girl’s Club, said. “Things have gone up. It makes it a struggle.”
* WTVO | Hard Rock Casino reaches new heights with final beam placement: “It’s almost 200,000 square feet inside. It will have numerous restaurants. It has a concert venue called ‘Live’. Can you picture 2,000 people standing there for hard rock acts that travel the nation on tour?” Johnson asked. “Coming to Rockford, there’ll be restaurants, games. It’s going to be Disneyland for adults.”
* PJ Star | Peoria unveils multi-million dollar plan to overhaul its riverfront. Here are the details: The Peoria City Council will hear about a riverfront redevelopment plan designed by Terra Engineering at its July 25 meeting. “The plan includes a dog park, kayak launch, sports courts, recreational structures, expanded hardscape for the Riverfront Market, and more,” the city said in a news release.
* NYT | With Art Colleges Closing, a Chicago Museum Has an Alternative: The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the educator Romi Crawford have become partners in a new program that focuses on pairing instruction by artists of color with hands-on learning by students working alongside them. This intensive, semester-long course, which its founders announced on Monday, is called the New Art School Modality and will start in September at the museum.
* Tribune | Illinois State Museum’s return of sacred statues to Kenya part of ongoing reexamination of cultural artifacts: Curators at the Illinois State Museum say they don’t know exactly how 38 wooden sculptures made their way from Kenya to Springfield. But the leading theory is that the move wasn’t aboveboard. “We can’t demonstrably state these in particular were stolen, but all the circumstantial evidence sort of points to that,” said Brooke Morgan, the curator of anthropology at the state museum system, a consortium of four museums around Illinois.
