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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* WMBD

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that the federal government is taking back previously awarded funds to help fight infectious diseases.

This means IDPH and other local health departments across the state are losing $125 million, which had been allocated for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Disease program, an Illinois State news release said.

That money was originally allocated to Illinois as part of the CARES Act during the first Trump administration. […]

In addition to the money the federal government is rescinding, they are also blocking $324 million that was expected to come to the state to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases in Illinois.

*** Statehouse News ***

* My Journal Courier | Illinois attorney general filing for approval of multi-million settlement with drug maker: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is moving to close on a multi-million dollar settlement with a generic drug maker accused of conspiracy. Raoul and a coalition of 50 attorneys general have filed for approval of a $39.1 million settlement with Apotex, a manufacturer of generic drugs. Apotex has been accused of a conspiracy to inflate prices of pharmaceuticals and limit competition.

*** Statewide ***

* Green Market Report | Two THC potency labeling cases dropped in Illinois: Within the surge of copycat lawsuits targeting cannabis companies over potency claims, two have been dropped in Illinois. Chad Alsip and Alex Martinez each filed notices with the Northern District of Illinois saying that they were voluntarily dismissing their claims against three entities, Ieso LLC, NuMed and HDC Group LLC, Law360 reported.

*** Chicago ***

* Crain’s | Johnson rebranding city initiatives into a new economic development strategy: Mayor Brandon Johnson is repackaging a collection of administration initiatives into an economic development strategy that senior officials say will lead to growth and investment in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The rebrand comes as Johnson nears the end of his second year in office and is meant to highlight efforts his administration has made to speed up the development approval process at City Hall and tweak existing programs to provide flexibility in how the city invests in Chicago neighborhoods.

* Block Club | ‘Founder’ Of LGBTQ+ Apartments For Seniors Being Evicted From Building He Fought For: Don Bell, a longtime advocate and pillar of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community, is facing eviction from Town Hall Apartments, the LGBTQ-friendly senior and affordable housing complex where he has lived since it opened in 2014 and where he is regarded by some as a founder. Building management says that 75-year-old Bell has repeatedly violated residency rules, citing multiple trespassing incidents involving Bell’s husband, who was barred from the property.

* Crain’s | Trump reversal of anti-racism tool in home appraisals could hit Chicago hard: Little’s letter does not provide an estimate of cost savings to be realized by abandoning the rule. The letter says an ROV should only be used for appraisals that appear to have failed to consider factors that were known at the time the property was appraised. It makes no mention of race. It is, essentially, a reversal of nondiscrimination efforts sparked by research in the past decade that found appraisers often mark down the value of Black- or Latino-owned homes based only on the race of the owners or racial makeup of the neighborhood.

* Crain’s | Navy Pier alleges ‘bait and switch’ by Crystal Gardens immersive exhibit group: Navy Pier Inc. alleges in the complaint that a venture of Atlanta-based Illuminarium Experiences pulled a “bait and switch” by selling pier officials on a “breathtaking and unique experience” inside the glassy atrium to secure a 10-year lease for the space in 2021, but only building out a showcase that was “significantly less than” promised amid a struggle to secure funding for the exhibit, according to the complaint. NPI, the nonprofit that operates the pier, is seeking an order from a Cook County judge forcing Illuminarium to build out the attraction city officials expected when they signed off on the lease more than three years ago.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Sun-Times | Clout-heavy lawyer with Madigan ties still raising campaign money for suburban mayors: A principal at Cornerstone, former Madigan aide Will Cousineau, testified under an immunity deal as a government witness in Madigan’s corruption trial. Cousineau had been part of a scheme to help a brother of Chicago Ald. Marty Quinn stay afloat financially after a sexual harassment scandal led Madigan to force him out of his political organization. Del Galdo represented Cousineau during his cooperation with authorities. … Cousineau’s company previously helped Welch’s wife, Shawnte Raines-Welch, during her successful run for Cook County judge in 2022, records show.

* Daily Southtown | University Park board candidates say recreation, water are top issues: Sorrell said she would prioritize increasing police patrols, expanding park programs and implementing mental health and youth activities that will “challenge their minds” and keep children busy. Robinson, a military veteran and three-year resident, said while chairing the Veterans Committee, he often receives requests from residents for more services.

* Daily Southtown | Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz faces challenge from Michael Maloney: Providing property tax rebates to Tinley Park taxpayers and improving relations with the village’s Park District are priorities of a slate of candidates facing incumbents in the April 1 election. Michael Maloney, a former union executive, leads the Tinley Together party as a mayoral candidate trying to unseat Mayor Michael Glotz, who is seeking a second term.

* Bloomberg | Evanston hedge fund could take $1 billion bite of OpenAI: OpenAI is close to finalizing a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank Group Corp. — with investors including Magnetar Capital, Coatue Management, Founders Fund and Altimeter Capital Management in talks to participate, according to people familiar with the matter. Magnetar Capital — an Evanston-based hedge fund — could contribute up to $1 billion, according to multiple people, all of whom asked not to be identified because the information is private.

* Daily Herald | How pickleball is revitalizing vacant big-box spaces across suburbs: When big-box stores like Toys R Us or Buy Buy Baby close, they leave behind tens of thousands of empty square feet — spaces that can be difficult to fill. Finding new tenants for these massive spaces is no small task. But one unlikely contender, pickleball — among the nation’s fastest-growing sports — is breathing new life into these cavernous retail spaces.

*** Downstate ***

* IPM | ‘Poverty-level people’: University of Illinois AFSCME workers rally for higher wages: The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Locals 3700 and 698 represent about 1,600 clerical, technical and community workers at U of I. The group said administrators are not offering them a fair contract after their last pay agreement expired in September. According to university spokesperson Robin Kaler, the union is asking for a 15% boost in pay over three years — and U of I is offering 6.75% in that period. Kaler said that would be more than the most recent campus plan for salary increases.

* NPR Illinois | Exciting updates and innovations are happening at the Illinois State Fair: Along with maintenance, new programming, entertainment, and new social media techniques have been introduced while also keeping the fairground’s history intact. Illinois State Fair officials talked about the improvements that have been made and what’s to come. They also gave an update on some of the festivities surrounding the centennial celebration of Route 66.

* WCIA | ADM, Mitsubishi Corporation team up to address agricultural issues: ADM and the Mitsubishi Corporation signed an agreement that outlines their plan to join together and explore potential areas of collaboration in the agricultural industry. Both companies signed a non-binding “memorandum of understanding” to form this alliance. […] Now, the two companies plan to explore ways to use their strengths to meet these global challenges together. ADM is one of the world’s largest food and agriculture companies, while Mitsubishi deals in multiple industries, including food and energy. The two hope that together, they’ll be able to identify new opportunities, ranging from a biofuel supply chain to a stronger global food system.

* The Southern | Sculpture dedication, discussion commemorate 2024 total solar eclipse at SIU: “Art in the Dark” will reflect on special moments with a discussion and sculpture design dedication. The “Journey to the Sun” panel discussion is from 3 to 4 p.m. in the library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium and will look at SIU’s meticulous planning, collaboration and scientific endeavors behind the experience. The discussion will also be available on the NASA-SIU Carbondale SolarSTEAM YouTube channel.

*** National ***

* The Hill | RFK Jr. set to cut 10K HHS jobs in major restructuring: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning to dismiss 10,000 employees as part of a massive restructuring effort, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Thursday, in a push to consolidate more agency functions under Kennedy’s purview. In total, HHS will reduce staff from the current 82,000 full-time employees to 62,000. The agency will seek to cut 10,000 jobs through layoffs, while the rest will come through buyouts, early retirement and the administration’s “Fork in the Road” offer.

* WaPo | See all the tariffs Trump has enacted, threatened and canceled: President Donald Trump began proposing new tariffs within hours of being sworn into office. Sixty days later, his whirlwind of on-again, off-again tariffs shows no sign of slowing down. Having trouble following the deluge? Scroll on for a day-by-day look at how Trump’s trade war has unfolded and where it stands now.

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The Credit Union Difference: People Over Profits

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

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February jobs up a mere 0.3 percent over last year

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here and here if you need it. From IDES

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that the unemployment rate fell -0.1 percentage point to 4.8 percent in February, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The revised January unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9 percent. The Illinois unemployment rate was down -0.1 percentage point from a year ago when it was 4.9 percent. The national unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in February, up +0.1 percentage point from the previous month, making the state’s unemployment +0.7 percentage point higher than the national unemployment rate.

Illinois nonfarm payrolls remained nearly unchanged in February at -6,500 (-0.1%), while the January monthly change in payrolls was revised from -1,100 to -4,400. The industry sectors with over-the-month job increases included: Construction (+2,900), Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+2,300), and Professional and Business Services (+1,900). The industry sectors with the largest monthly payroll job decreases included: Government (-5,600), Leisure and Hospitality (-3,100), and Private Education and Health Services (-1,700).

Compared to a year ago, total nonfarm payroll jobs increased by +19,100 jobs. The industry groups with the largest jobs increases included: Private Education and Health Services (+20,700), Government (+14,900), and Leisure and Hospitality (+5,300). The industry groups with the largest jobs decreases included: Professional and Business Services (-13,900), Manufacturing (-7,300), and Construction (-1,600). In February, total nonfarm payrolls were up +0.3 percent over-the-year in Illinois and up +1.2 percent in the nation.

“While this month’s headline unemployment rate shows little change, a deeper look at the report reveals the start of a troubling trend—federal government workers being victim to the chaos unleashed by Elon Musk and the Trump Administration,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “Despite this alarming new trend, the report also reflects the resiliency of the state’s economy, due in part to the investment in key growing industries made by this Administration. IDES stands ready to provide critical resources to support federal employees and contractors impacted by recent terminations.”

Chart

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Sparks Fly At Nursing Home Industry Legislative Hearing

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Sparks flew in a high-drama House Human Services Committee hearing last week as Representative Anna Moeller and Representative Yolonda Morris called attention to nursing home owners falling short of meeting minimum safe staffing requirements, despite significant state investment intended to address staffing shortages.

The nursing home industry-backed HB2922 attempts to ease fines meant to enforce accountability for understaffing in facilities, even though nursing home owners previously asked for and received millions in tax breaks and additional state funding intended specifically to improve staffing levels.

Despite the resources provided by the state, way too many nursing homes continue to operate short staffed, resulting in real harm and ongoing risks to our seniors.

Rep. Morris, a former nursing home certified nursing assistant, highlighted the severity of staffing issues, “It’s time for you guys to learn how to start staffing up and be held accountable.”

Rep. Moeller added, “Why do we have to keep fighting the battle every year with the industry? Why can’t you just do what you’re supposed to do to take care of our seniors?”

Lawmakers Moeller and Morris underscored the critical need for accountability, emphasizing that the industry has received hundreds of millions of dollars in public resources meant to improve care for our seniors. Oppose HB2922, because the minimum required resident care can’t wait.

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Judge to push ahead with ComEd Four sentencing despite recent Supreme Court ruling

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Earlier this month, Judge Manish Shah tossed out the bribery convictions in the ComEd Four case

A federal judge Monday granted a new trial on some counts in the “ComEd Four” case alleging a wide-ranging plot to illegally influence then-House Speaker Michael Madigan, saying the Supreme Court’s ruling last year on a key bribery statute means the jury was not instructed properly.

In making his ruling, however, U.S. District Judge Manish Shah left intact the convictions on a number of other counts, including the lead count of conspiracy and charges alleging the defendants cooked ComEd’s books to hide the scheme.

* A status hearing was held this morning in the ComEd Four case. Sun-Times Federal Courts Reporter Jon Seidel



* Prosecutors asked to proceed with sentencing on the counts that Judge Shah left in place. Tribune

Defense attorneys strongly objected, saying they received a letter recently from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office saying the case was under review by the Department of Justice, which would make a decision whether the false statements counts charged under the FCPA should be dropped.

The defense also said the Supreme Court’s ruling last week in the case of former Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson gives them further ammunition to argue that the false statements counts should not stand.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker, however, said they have no timetable on when the attorney general might weigh in and have “received no guidance” on what the decision might be. “We will follow whatever guidance we get,” she said.

“The defendants have had more than a full opportunity over the past two years to make post trial motions…It is now time for sentencing,” Streicker said. There is no basis to just delay sentencing based upon a hope that something might turn the defendant’s way.”

Shah agreed, saying he was satisfied that a proceeding to sentencing would finally bring the prosecution to a close and leave it in the hands of appellate courts. He said he wanted to sentence the four defendants separately sometime in July and asked the parties to consult their schedules and get back to him.

* Sun-Times

Pramaggiore attorney Scott Lassar told the judge that prosecutors wanted to proceed to sentencing, while also reserving any decision on whether to retry the four defendants on the overturned bribery counts. He objected.

“It sounds like they’re going to wait and see what the sentence is, and then they’ll decide whether they’ll dismiss the counts,” Lassar said.

But Shah asked Streicker, “if I set sentencing dates and there is a sentencing on the counts of conviction, will the government dismiss the remaining counts?”

Streicker told him, “yes, that would be our intention.”

* Judge Shah said he’s looking at July. The Tribune’s Jason Meisner



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More on yesterday’s EO (Updated)

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* More background is here if you need it. Tribune

Democrats in Springfield and Washington are vowing to defend Illinois election laws against a sweeping executive order from Donald Trump aimed at limiting counting of mail-in votes, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and giving Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency access to voter data. […]

Trump’s order goes after one significant aspect of Illinois election law, a 2015 statute that requires the counting of mail-in ballots that are postmarked or voter-signed and certified by Election Day and arrive within the following 14 days. Illinois is among about 20 states that allow post-Election Day vote counting.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago in August upheld a lower federal court ruling that dismissed a case brought by Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro and led by the conservative law group Judicial Watch that sought to prevent any votes from being counted after Election Day.

Judicial Watch appealed the case, which was dismissed for lack of standing, to the U.S. Supreme Court. The appeal came less than a month after the conservative 5th District Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana sided with Republicans and said Mississippi’s law allowing post-Election Day vote counting violated federal law. […]

Trump ordered the U.S. attorney general’s office to “take all necessary action” against states that “include absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day in the final tabulation of votes for the appointment of presidential electors and the election of” U.S. senators and House members. He also said the federal Election Assistance Commission “shall condition any available funding to a state on that state’s compliance” with counting all votes on Election Day.

I don’t know how the president can claim that he has the power to decide a dispute between two appellate circuits. That’s the US Supreme Court’s job.

…Adding… Press release excerpt…

In response to the executive order, a group of voting rights advocates including the League of Women Voters of Illinois and the ACLU of Illinois released the following statement:

    As organizations who have worked tirelessly to advance and expand access to the ballot across Illinois for many years, we condemn the President’s blatant overreach aimed at changing the progress we have made in our state. Donald Trump would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters—based on the lie that non-citizens are voting in large numbers. This executive order—like so many of Trump’s efforts—is blatantly illegal and attempts to substitute the conspiracy theories of the Trump White House for good policy measures we have adopted in Illinois.

    With less than a week before voters across the State of Illinois go to the ballot box in critical important elections, no one should be confused or misled: the President’s order does not impact the ability of people to vote by mail or register on election day in our state for these elections. We encourage everyone who is eligible to participate and vote for candidates who reflect their values in these important local elections.

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RETAIL: The Largest Employer In Illinois

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Retail creates more jobs in Illinois than any other private sector employer, with one out of every four workers employed by the retail sector. Importantly, retail is an industry in which everyone, regardless of credentials, can find a viable career path.

Retailers like Holly enrich our economy and strengthen our communities. We Are Retail and IRMA showcase the retailers who make Illinois work.

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It’s just a bill

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Pantagraph

PBMs are the middlemen between health insurance companies, drug manufacturers and pharmacies. Originally, they were meant to help manage prescription drug benefits for health plans, employers and government programs such as medicaid.

Today, Many pharmacists and other members of the pharmaceutical industry argue PBMs are focused more on profit than patient care, steering patients toward their own vertically integrated pharmacies – like CVS Caremark directing patients toward CVS or OptumRx toward United Health-affiliated providers. [….]

Gov. Pritzker will soon introduce his prescription drug affordability act that plans to regulate PBM practices and reduce drug costs for Illinois patients. […]

SB2385 filed by Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, would curb PBM abuses by stopping steering, mandating fair reimbursement, mandating fair reimbursement, and requiring PBMs to submit annual pricing reports. The bill is currently assigned to the Senate Executive Committee but has yet to be heard.

* WCIA

Illinois restaurants and other businesses may have to say goodbye to styrofoam cups.

Last week, the fight against plastic waste moved forward in the Senate committee, which aims to ban Styrofoam and single-use bags. […]

The Coalition for Plastic Reduction joined other advocates to support a bill filed by Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview). The bill passed the Senate committee and aims to ban manufacturing companies from making and selling containers made with polystyrene foam in the state starting in 2030. These products include Styrofoam to-go boxes, cups, and plates. […]

The bill now goes to the Senate floor for a full vote. If passed, companies will have five years to transition to an alternative product before the deadline. However, they can still make Styrofoam containers to be exported outside of Illinois. Any first-time violation will receive a warning, followed by a fine.

* WAND

The Illinois House can pass a bill next month to allow certified nurse midwives to help address the state’s maternal healthcare deserts.

Home birth services could be provided by certified midwives if they have a written collaborative agreement with local doctors or other healthcare providers. […]

House Bill 2688 passed unanimously out of the House Healthcare Licenses Committee and now moves to the House floor.

Representatives Adam Niemerg (R-Teutopolis), Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro), and Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) are all co-sponsors of the legislation.

* Center Square

State Sen. Celina Villanueva, D-Chicago, filed Senate Bill 1618, which would create a distillery shipper’s license, a class 3 craft distiller license and a spirits showcase permit. […]

According to the Illinois Craft Distillers Association, while 47 states allow for the direct shipment of wine from winemakers to consumers, only 11 states allow distillers to ship their products directly to consumers. Illinois is not among the 11. […]

Illinois Retail Merchants Association Vice President Alec Laird spoke in opposition to the direct-to-consumer part of the bill.

“So there is a disadvantage for local retailers. Distillers selling directly-to-consumers undercut retail prices, making it difficult for local stores to compete,” Laird said.

* Insurance Business Mag

Illinois lawmakers have launched a formal effort to address a quietly building crisis that advocates say could soon overwhelm the state’s already-strained foster care system. At the heart of the issue: the disappearance of liability insurance for the private agencies that care for the vast majority of the state’s foster children.

A new resolution, House Joint Resolution 24, establishes the Child Welfare Agency Liability Task Force, charged with developing a permanent solution to the liability insurance shortfall that has shaken the foundations of Illinois’ child welfare system. The urgency is clear: without a fix, hundreds - perhaps thousands - of foster youth may be displaced as agencies lose the insurance coverage required to operate.

The stakes are high. Nearly 70% of Illinois’ more than 18,000 foster children are cared for by community-based, not-for-profit agencies operating under state contract. These organizations must maintain liability insurance to continue serving children. Yet, the market for such insurance has all but evaporated. Two remaining insurers plan to stop writing new policies in 2025 and are only selectively renewing existing ones—often at staggering rate increases and with severely diminished coverage. […]

Two bills introduced earlier this year - House Bill 3138 and Senate Bill 1696 - attempted a short-term fix by offering two-year civil liability immunity to foster care agencies and their employees, unless their actions were found to be “willful and wanton.” But the proposals have stalled under pressure from the politically powerful Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, which argues such immunity would deny justice to abused children.

* WAND

A bill to expand what constitutes stalking passed the House Judicial Civil committee unanimously on Wednesday.

The plan would make it easier to charge a person with a Stalking No Contact Order when the victim feels under “emotional distress.”

Under the proposed policy, victims can seek legal relief if they receive multiple phone calls from the stalker after they’ve been told to stop, they’re repeatedly appearing at the victim’s workplace or outside their home, or they’re following the victim in a public place among others.

State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) said a lot of the time, due to the language of current stalking laws, some stalkers can leave charge free.

* Rep. Harry Benton…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, is working to make childcare more accessible and affordable by advancing a pair of bills bringing more early childhood educators into the classroom and improving access to care for military families. […]

Benton advanced the following legislation out of House committees:

    - House Bill 3268: Helps address the high costs of childcare by allowing daycares to hire teachers according to a tiered system, while they work to get their qualifications–similar to an apprenticeship program. This will help address the teacher shortage and prevent the closures of so many childcare facilities across the state.

    - House Bill 3444: Specifically designed to help military families with the cost of childcare by making daycares located on military bases exempt from DCFS regulation if they are certified by the U.S. Department of Defense and a qualified national accrediting agency.

* Chicago Editorial Board

Illinois has certainly become famous for its vast number of government entities, with a total of 8,505 townships, counties, villages, water reclamation districts … you name it. The St. Louis Fed points out that Illinois has more than 1.5 times as many units of government as California, despite having less than a third as many residents. All of this to say, the vast quantity of government in Illinois is an outlier. […]

We concede that some townships provide valuable services no other governmental body offers, particularly in rural areas of the state.

It’s a different story in densely populated areas, where townships overlap with counties and villages. Is such a tangle of government truly necessary? […]

Lawmakers this session filed a handful of bills in Springfield to further the cause. One would allow election authorities to merge contiguous townships into a single election precinct if certain conditions are met. Another measure would dissolve all townships with fewer than 5,000 residents, consolidating them with either an adjacent township or the county governing their geographic area. […]

Unfortunately, the movement appears to have stalled in Springfield. Despite the governor’s backing, Senate and House committees moved none of the bills aiming to shrink Illinois’ number of townships before the legislature’s deadline for committee action.

* WAND

A bill heading to the Illinois House floor could require all assisted living and shared homes to have an AED on-site.

The plan also calls for all healthcare employees at the facility to be trained on how to use defibrillators in emergencies.

Sponsors told the House Human Services Committee Wednesday that 292 nursing homes already have AEDs. However, that number only makes up 54% of the facilities across the state. […]

House Bill 1287 passed unanimously out of the House Human Services Committee and now heads to the House floor.

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Open thread

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

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

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Federal government to pull back $125 million in COVID money from Illinois health departments. Tribune

The federal government is pulling back $125 million in funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health and 97 local health departments for activities related to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, the state health department said Wednesday.

In all, the federal government is slashing $11.4 billion in federal funding across the country for state and local health departments and other health organizations for COVID-19-related activities. The move is the latest by the administration of President Donald Trump to cut costs across the federal government.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement. […]

The Illinois Department of Public Health had allocated the money for technology to track the spread of diseases, invest in labs that test samples for infectious diseases, to conduct surveillance of wastewater, to build the public health workforce and strengthen local health departments.

* Related stories…

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* ABC Chicago | CTA workers, members of ATU Local 308, canvassing stations to raise awareness of fiscal cliff: Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 308 are canvassing Blue and Red Line stations Wednesday, handing out pamphlets to riders on the impending fiscal cliff facing Chicago public transit. “It is feeling like we’re fighting. We’re trying to get the safety issues taken care of. We’re trying to get the morale of the ridership; we’re trying to get that back up,” CTA switch operator Brandy Leach said.

* Tribune | Illinois affordable housing projects on pause as Trump administration evaluates funds: The more than $1 billion national program, known as the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, is funded through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and provides developers with one piece of the complex and expensive capital stack required to complete affordable housing projects. The Associated Press first reported the threat to the national HUD program. About 270 projects were awarded funds, with at least 15 of these projects in Illinois — in various stages of development. The Illinois developments are slated to receive over $52.5 million, with some still forging ahead.

* Capitol News Illinois | A university, a rural town and their fight to survive Trump’s war on higher education: Supporters of Trump’s proposed research funding cuts say schools should dip into their endowment funds to offset the recent cuts. But SIU’s $210 million endowment, almost all of it earmarked for specific purposes, is pocket change compared with Ivy League schools like Yale, which has a similar student population size but a roughly $41 billion endowment. At present, SIU faces a $9.4 million deficit, the result of declining enrollments and years of state budget cuts; there is no cushion for it to fall back on.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Investigate Midwest | Illinois governor moves to slash cover crop funds despite rising demand: Illinois’ only cover crop incentive program could lose nearly a third of its funding under Gov. JB Pritzker’s proposed state budget. A bill to increase funding missed Friday’s committee deadline. Farmers and environmental advocates warn conservation efforts could stall without it.

* WBEZ | New poll shows most Illinois residents want more funding for public schools: A new poll out Wednesday shows that most Illinois residents want more funding for public schools, a finding released just as educators are warning that efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education could reduce school spending and hurt students, particularly the most vulnerable. The poll from the Illinois Education Association found that 71% of Illinois residents believe funding for public schools should increase and more than 9 in 10 residents believe students have a right to a public education. The IEA is the state’s largest teachers union.

* Capitol News Illinois | Democrats argue Republicans waited too long to file latest redistricting lawsuit: A case brought to the Illinois Supreme Court by House Republican Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, asked the court to reject the current legislative map for its partisan bias and have a special master redraw the districts. But it is not yet known whether the court will take the case. […] While the court hasn’t yet said whether it will hear the case, it did ask both parties to explain whether McCombie and the other plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in a timely manner, a factor to be considered in deciding whether to take the case.

* Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton | Women in office aren’t an exception but a necessity: As a country, we seem to be forgetting a fundamental and time-tested lesson — representation matters. Not just representation for representation’s sake, but true representation that makes a real impact on our country’s governance. Women all across America deserve leaders who respect them, understand the issues they face, and are brave enough to advocate for them at every level of office. It’s what drove Loretta Durbin and a group of trailblazing women to create the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership Training Academy 25 years ago at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

*** Statewide ***

* Crain’s | Illinois EV sales surged, fueled by incentives: Sales of electric vehicles in Illinois have perked up in recent months, well above the uptick nationally, as consumer and corporate purchasers took advantage of incentives. The number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with 6,535 during the same period a year ago. Even discarding March, which was unusually weak a year ago, total registrations in January and February were up 37%.

* BGA | State Courts Lag on Electronic Monitoring Data Required by SAFE-T Act: As BGA Policy has consistently highlighted, Illinois’ judicial branch is not subject to FOIA, leaving entities like juvenile detention centers, policies and procedures of judicial agencies, training manuals and budget documents to all be kept outside of the public’s view. Even when mandated to publish information, BGA Policy has reported on how the judicial branch has been slow to comply. Now, with an unprecedented expansion of electronic monitoring, the public continues to wait on mandated information from the judicial branch that they have yet to make available.

* Daily Herald | Illinois association survey shows unease over dismantling of U.S. Department of Education: The bipartisan poll of 1,000 people randomly surveyed in late January shows their views on public education. A majority of those surveyed believe: all students have a right to public education (91%); funding for public schools should increase (71%); teachers and support staff should be paid more (53% and 69%, respectively); and that local school board elections should be free from the influence of national political groups (72%).

*** Downstate ***

* WICS | Sangamon County Sheriff’s staff face disciplinary action after burglary leads to car chase: A motorcycle shop is still missing thousands of dollars in merchandise, and a sheriff’s deputy and sergeant are facing disciplinary action months after a burglary investigation led to a suspect’s death. […] Crouch told me her office believes the sergeant and deputy violated some of the office policies. In the Sangamon County sheriff’s policy manual, it says deputies should not pursue a vehicle solely involved in a property crime.

* WCIA | ‘We’re strong’; Neoga students back in school after tornado: “It means a lot to me that we’re strong and can go through this together,” third-grader Afia Simtim-Aboagye said. Students were supposed to head back to school from spring break on March 17, but the storm damage pushed that start date to March 26.

* WIFR | Winnebago Co. inmates graduate with metalworking certifications: The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department and Rock Valley College partnered in late 2020 to offer inmates a chance to get an education and curb recidivism rates in the Rockford region. Their studies are hands-on thanks to the TechWork Training Initiative. Each inmate learns CNC machinery in the class and leaves with the certification necessary to enter the machining industry.

*** Chicago ***

* WBEZ | DePaul class inside Cook County jail brings together incarcerated and traditional students: It’s a typical class session in the Inside-Out program, which brings together campus-based students with incarcerated students for quarter-long courses. Founded in 1997 at Temple University, the program is now taught in hundreds of correctional facilities across the country. DePaul offers at least one of these classes at Cook County jail every quarter.

* Sun-Times | Durbin under fire from progressives over vote for GOP spending plan: A statement by influential Chicago advocacy groups against Sen. Dick Durbin’s vote, coupled with a climate group protest targeting him, are uncommon public rebukes of the 80-year-old lawmaker deciding whether to run for another term.

* WBEZ | Sanctuary and restriction: A look at Chicago mayors’ wildly different approaches to immigrants: One of the city’s most famous anti-immigrant incidents happened because of a one-term mayor, Levi Boone. The 17th mayor of Chicago ran on a pro-temperance and anti-immigrant platform in 1855, two issues that were linked in Boone’s mind. “He was affiliated with a political party called the Native American party. Now, this isn’t referring to indigenous people. Instead, what it meant was people who had been born in the United States,” said Paul Durica, director of exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum.

* Block Club | The City Is Waiving Sticker Penalties For Chicago Drivers For All Of April: “We are pushing so hard on this Amnesty Month message because we want people to take this opportunity, regardless of the last time they purchased a City Sticker, to get on track,” Martinez said.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Fox Chicago | Democratic push to unseat Aurora Mayor Irvin grows amid development and debt concerns: Meanwhile, Democratic challenger John Lash has been knocking on doors, arguing city government has gone off track. He accused Irvin of steering tens of millions in city subsidies to political allies and campaign donors.

* Journal-Topics | Possibly Historic Election Sees Full Slate Of Dems Challenge GOP Trustees In Elk Grove Township: The four Democratic candidates challenging the four incumbent Republicans are Robert Lugiai of Mount Prospect, Monika Stajniak of Elk Grove Village, Jason Wynkoop of Mount Prospect, and Phillip Dukes of Arlington Heights. The incumbent Republicans running for reelection are Richard Keenley, Dale Niewiardowski, David Perns and Brian Maye.

* Aurora Beacon-News | SAFE-T Act increasing expenses in Kane County, state’s attorney says: With a sales tax referendum question being put to voters in less than a week, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser and other public safety officials in the county described increasing staffing and operational costs they’re facing after Illinois ended cash bail. At the Kane County Board Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, Mosser and others outlined staffing and operating changes they’ve had to make – from hiring additional attorneys to paying for more overtime hours for staff at hearings that stretch through the day – since the SAFE-T Act took effect in Illinois on Sept. 18, 2023.

* Tribune | Park Ridge council hears from business owner on Delta-8 ban, holds off on vote: The meeting agenda that Monday night called for a vote on passage of the first reading of the draft ordinance, which anticipates banning “the sale of Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC products protects the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City,” according to the draft. “This is the wild, wild west of controlled substances,” said council member John Moran, 1st Ward, who was not present for the discussion two weeks before. “I had a resident bring it to my attention; a lot of the manufacturers of these products are not reputable.”

  7 Comments      


Selected press releases (Live updates)

Thursday, Mar 27, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

  Comment      


Live coverage

Thursday, Mar 27, 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 roundup

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Click here for some background. The Teamsters Union put out a press release today with the headline: “Billionaire Governor’s Anti-Worker Measure Further Harms Amazon Workers”…

The Teamsters Union is condemning Gov. JB Pritzker for vetoing House Bill 2547, the Illinois Warehouse Worker Protection Act (WWPA). The bipartisan legislation, which passed through the statehouse with overwhelming support, would have prevented companies like Amazon from abusing the workforce by regulating the use and disclosure of warehouse quotas.

“We are deeply disappointed that the governor has vetoed the Warehouse Worker Protection Act. In doing so, he has abandoned the very people who give their all every day, working under inhumane production quotas that are not only unacceptable but also dangerous,” said Thomas W. Stiede, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25. “Having been a warehouse worker, I’m deeply familiar with the harsh and inhumane conditions in this industry, and I know firsthand why this bill is necessary. It’s unfortunate that our Governor doesn’t have those same experiences or sympathies. Warehouse workers, including those at Amazon, are simply trying to provide for their families honestly and safely, and the Illinois governor has turned his back on them.”

California, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, and Washington have already passed their own versions of the WWPA, and a similar measure at the federal level has bipartisan support.

“The Warehouse Worker Protection Act is the most commonsense, effective solution to the rampant abuse of warehouse workers by greedy and dangerous companies like Amazon,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “The Teamsters will never stop fighting for it, both federally and in state houses across the country. In light of the governor’s reckless act, Illinois clearly needs stronger leadership that has the backbone and compassion to put hardworking families first.”

Teamsters Joint Council 25 represents more than 125,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana.

* The Governor’s Press Secretary Alex Gough…

“Governor Pritzker will not make decisions based on statements from people who spoke in favor of Donald Trump’s anti-worker agenda last summer and aided Bruce Rauner’s attacks on working families. We were clear from the beginning with our concerns with the Teamsters that this would not be enforceable, and presented legal issues. As he said in his veto message, the Governor shares the goal to protect warehouse workers from dangerous and unfair conditions and invites all union leaders to engage in good-faith conversations that will deliver a real solution and actually protects workers.”

* The secret is out!

Happy birthday, Rich!

*** Statehouse News ***

* Chicago Reader | Illinois’s public defense crisis: Illinois is facing a public defense crisis. That was the message from lawyers, lawmakers, policy advocates, and organizers who converged at the Northwestern Pritzker Law’s downtown campus on March 24 for a daylong summit on the future of public defense. The event, hosted by Northwestern’s Children and Family Justice Center and the Illinois Justice Project, was organized ostensibly to support a bill moving through the General Assembly that would create a statewide public defender agency. Numerous speakers highlighted the need for substantive structural change to address funding disparities, conflicts of interest, and an overall dearth of data about public defense in Illinois.

*** Statewide ***

* Block Club | Sanctuary Policies ‘Protect Public Safety,’ Groups Argue In Response To Justice Department Lawsuit: As the federal government continues to pursue its lawsuit against Chicago, Cook County and Illinois over their “sanctuary” policies, local legal groups this week filed a brief arguing that sanctuary laws actually promote public safety — and encourage economic growth. An amicus brief in the case was filed Tuesday by the ACLU of Illinois and the National Immigrant Justice Center on behalf of several local immigrant advocacy organizations.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Accused Skokie candidate won’t get ethics hearing before election: Skokie Trustee James Johnson, who is running for village clerk and in the midst of an ethics violation investigation, won’t receive a conclusive hearing before the April 1 election on whether or not Johnson used the village’s resources for political gain. An amendment to an ethics complaint targeting Johnson was submitted to the village’s ethics commission on Monday, according to one of the eight Skokie residents who submitted the complaint in February. The amended complaint caused the investigation to start over, and caused an evidentiary hearing scheduled for last week to be canceled.

* Tribune | Wealthy white homeowners vote more on property tax hike proposals in Cook County, study finds: Referendums for $45 million in infrastructure spending in Western Springs, $94.9 million in school upgrades in Northbrook, and for permission to go above state tax caps in the Northfield Park District, Prospect Heights and Roselle are on the ballot this spring. And Pappas’ office found a small number of voters — largely rich, white homeowners — tend to have the strongest turnout for these types of property tax votes.

* Daily Southtown | Dolton 148 Board defends salary increase for superintendent making $450,000: Dolton Elementary School District 148 Board members say they were excluded from discussions leading to a salary increase for Superintendent Kevin Nohelty, boosting his $450,000 salary $30,000 each of the next two years. During a packed meeting Tuesday, board President Larry Lawrence explained the decision to increase the salary, approved at a special meeting March 18, was because Nohely stayed on past his contract’s end date in June 2022 as the board searches for his replacement.

* Daily Herald | District 200 school board race pits incumbents against challengers questioning middle school projects: Unlike the election battles in the pandemic’s shadow, the candidate roster this time is largely divided along more familiar lines, with some challenging the status quo and raising questions about a voter-approved plan for major projects in the district’s oldest middle schools. […] It’s the first school board contest since 68% of voters in November backed the district’s request to take out $151.5 million in bonds for work at Edison, Franklin and Monroe middle schools.

*** Chicago ***

* Chicago Mag | Karen Lewis’s posthumous new memoir recounts the transformation of the Chicago Teachers Union into a disrupter of the status quo: ”Initially I thought Renaissance 2010 was a terrible joke; I didn’t believe it would really happen until I started to see it in action. I wasn’t worried for myself, because I taught at a selective enrollment school that would never close. Yet I knew my sisters and brothers throughout the city were being devastated. Renaissance 2010 led to the closure of more than 100 public schools; it maligned veteran Black teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators; and it launched many charter, contract, and alternative schools without unionized workforces.”

* Sun-Times | Amtrak busing travelers to St. Paul, Milwaukee after canceling trains from Chicago: Amtrak began busing passengers Wednesday between Chicago and St. Paul, Minnesota, and Milwaukee after discovering corrosion issues on several of its passenger cars, raising the prospect of long-term service disruptions. The passenger rail service said it is running buses in place of trains on its Borealis route, which runs one train a day to and from Chicago and St. Paul, Minnesota. Half of Amtrak’s six daily Hiawatha service trains to and from Milwaukee are also running on buses.

* Crain’s | Chicago food banks stung by Trump cuts while costs climb: In the west side of Chicago, Wendy Daniels has seen an increase of about 25% in the number of new people coming through her food bank since January. That’s a worrying trend, she says, as tariffs, inflation and funding cuts are set to squeeze grocery budgets while making it more expensive for food banks to cover their operating costs.

* Sun-Times | CPD cracking down on sloppy appearance of some cops or face reprimand, according to scathing internal memo: Officers have to wear “clean and serviceable” uniforms with no holes or tears and are forbidden from wearing hoodies underneath or tactical pants, according to the memo, sent out earlier this week by Area 5 District Cmdr. William Betancourt and which was obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. “We have spoken about this for the past 18 months and we are still not addressing the officers in the districts in regards to this!” Betancourt said in the email.

* Tribune | Julie Woestehoff, Chicago education activist who urged local control of schools, dies: Julie Woestehoff was the longtime executive director of Chicago-based Parents United for Responsible Education (PURE), a reform-minded schools advocacy group that pushed for citizen involvement in the city’s schools and equitable use of standardized tests. Woestehoff encouraged “many parents to get involved with their children’s education because she believed that parents were the key to advocating for their own children. They knew what the children needed,” said Wanda Hopkins, a former PURE assistant director. “And we believed that every child had the right to have the best education possible.”

* Tribune | Lady Gaga announces ‘Mayhem’ tour with Chicago concerts in September: Lady Gaga has announced a tour behind her new album “Mayhem” with Chicago dates in September. The tour, dubbed “Mayhem Ball,” will play the United Center (1901 W. Madison St.) on Sept. 15 and 17. An artist ticket presale begins at noon April 2. Access that presale at signup.ticketmaster.com/ladygaga; the signup closes at 8 a.m. March 30. The public pre-sale begins noon April 3; more at www.livenation.com. There will also be a presale for Citi card holders beginning at noon March 31 and a Verizon pre-sale at noon April 1.

*** Downstate ***

* WMBD | Peoria County prosecutor arrested for allegedly possessing stolen firearm: Kali Pray, 28, and her passenger, Drake Tharp, 23, of Creve Coeur, were both charged in Woodford County Circuit Court with possession of a stolen firearm and for not having a valid FOID card. Those charges carry a maximum sentence of up to seven years behind bars. Anna Perales, a spokeswoman for the Peoria County State’s Attorney‘s office, said Pray had been on “administrative unpaid leave when this incident happened. We are reviewing the matter.”

* WCIA | University of Illinois employees rally for fair wages: Their previous agreement expired in September, and negotiations for a new contract have been going on for a year. Now, the union members say the increased .25% wage offer, bringing the total offer to around 2.5% for the first year, is not enough for some of the lower-paid union members to earn a living wage.

* WCIA | Reynolds Towing addresses employee’s Nazi salute after video circulates online: An offensive video circulating online has led to a man getting fired from his tow-truck job. Reynolds Towing in Champaign is apologizing for the antisemitic clip. The video shows an employee standing on the back of a tow truck in a Reynolds towing uniform giving a Nazi salute. He then said an expletive referring to Jewish people.

* WCBU | Peoria County extends low-income broadband access program: Allen says 36 people enrolled in the pilot program, funded by a $125,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The county received an extension to the grant, allowing for funds to rollover to July 2026 and for the inclusion of a second cohort of households.

*** National ***

* Bloomberg | Rivian spins out startup focused on ‘micromobility’ EVs: The new “micromobility” company, known as Also, is launching with $105 million in funding from Rivian and venture capital firm Eclipse. Rivian, which makes consumer EV trucks and SUVs, will have a minority stake in Also. Chris Yu, a Rivian executive who will lead the new company as president, said in an interview that current options are limited for customers looking for plug-in vehicles smaller than a standard car. “There is a lack of personalized experience you get, like with a Rivian, for small EVs.”

  20 Comments      


Stop Credit Card Chaos In Illinois

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

A last-minute provision called the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) was snuck into the budget process last May and will create chaos for small businesses and consumers across Illinois if it takes effect on July 1, 2025.

The IFPA gives corporate mega-stores like Walmart and Home Depot — who pushed for this backroom deal — millions more in profits, while small business owners get new expenses and accounting headaches. What’s more, consumers could be forced to pay for parts of their transactions in cash if this law moves forward.

A recent court ruling in the litigation challenging the law suggests IFPA is likely pre-empted by federal law for national banks and will only apply to credit unions and local Illinois banks, putting local banks at a disadvantage against their national competitors.

Illinois lawmakers should repeal the IFPA and focus on protecting small businesses and consumers across the state — not lining the pockets of corporate mega-stores.

Stop the countdown to chaos by supporting a repeal of this misguided and flawed policy. Learn more at https://guardyourcard.com/illinois/

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Vinicky focuses on new career

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Last week…


* This week…

Intersect Illinois Announces Strategic Leadership Hires, Adds Depth in Key Areas

Amanda Vinicky, Elizabeth Gichana, Kyla Karten, Kate Lindgren, and Ramya Koritala to support Intersect Illinois’ business attraction strategies

CHICAGO, IL – Today, Intersect Illinois announced the addition of five key leaders to its team, reinforcing its commitment to driving investment, job creation, and economic growth across Illinois. These strategic hires further strengthen the organization’s expertise in life sciences, site readiness, business development, data-driven research, and communications strategy.

“Expanding our team to encompass more expertise is a top priority for our organization as Team Illinois seeks to build on its competitive business advantages,” said Christy George, President and CEO of Intersect Illinois. “Amanda, Elizabeth, Kyla, Kate, and Ramya are tremendous assets to the team, and each of these accomplished professionals brings specialized expertise that will help advance our mission. With the addition of Robin Ficke and Dr. Preeti Chalsani last year, our team is stronger than ever, and we look forward to the impact these leaders will make in driving growth across the state.”

Amanda Vinicky has been named Vice President of Communications. She will lead Intersect Illinois’ communications strategy, amplifying the organization’s mission, success stories, and economic impact to key stakeholders, media, and the public. A talented journalist with over 20 years of experience, Vinicky previously served as a correspondent and host on WTTW-TV’s “Chicago Tonight” and was Statehouse Bureau Chief for NPR Illinois and the Illinois Public Radio network—work that garnered Emmys, Lisagors from the Chicago Headline Club, and other reporting awards. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois Springfield’s celebrated Public Affairs Reporting program and has degrees in political science and journalism from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

“Most anyone who has met me knows I have an unbridled love of Illinois, which is why as a journalist I pushed its leaders to be their best on behalf of its residents,” Vinicky said. “As a lifelong Illinoisan, I know all that the state has to offer and I’m dedicated to being part of Intersect Illinois’ work in sharing that story and advancing the state’s growth.”

I’ve known Ms. Vinicky since she was a PAR intern way back in the day. I never thought she’d leave journalism, but this is a great move for her, and a bad omen for WTTW.

* To this day, I still utter the line “Focus, Amanda. Focus”…


Classic.

  24 Comments      


It’s just a bill

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Retired educator and college basketball referee Ed Hightower

In high-pressure moments, when everything is on the line, leaders must be able to make the right call. As March Madness takes hold this spring, Illinois lawmakers must make the right call regarding affordable housing.

Growing up in a family of eight children in Southeast Missouri, I knew what it meant to struggle. We didn’t have indoor plumbing until 1966, when my mother moved us to Alton, Illinois. That experience shaped my understanding of the critical need for safe, affordable housing — something too many families in Illinois still lack today. […]

I urge Illinois lawmakers to support the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit — an innovative solution to our state’s affordable housing crisis.

I believe this legislation could be a game-changer. It provides the push developers need to move projects forward. This tax credit is a low-risk investment for taxpayers. Private investors supply the funds upfront, and the state issues credits only after developments are completed and families move in. It’s a fiscally responsible way to create much-needed housing while spurring economic growth. […]

The Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit will close those financing gaps by making the critical commitment for developers and investors to give these developments the green light. More than half of the states nationally have adopted credits like Build Illinois Homes to drive affordable housing investment. During these trying times, people need safe, affordable housing and education, health care, and social service support. All work together to lift people and their communities.

* Center Square

Lawmakers discussed proposed regulation of hemp-derived intoxicating beverages in a state Senate Liquor Committee hearing Tuesday afternoon.

State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, filed Senate Bill 1766, which would impose taxes on hemp manufacturers and distributors. It would also force hemp businesses to be regulated by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.

“We are open to making modifications to the bill, but I think it’s time that this form of beverage be entered into the regulatory space. We think this is a good way to do it,” Cunningham said. […]

Chris Coleman of the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois spoke in support of SB 1766 and said it would impose strict labeling requirements on hemp beverages.

Coleman also addressed lawmakers’ concerns that highly-caffeinated beverages are not part of the bill.

Executive Director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois Tiffany Chappell Ingram …

“While we agree that it’s time for Illinois to take action against intoxicating hemp products, including THC beverages, this proposal falls short of providing consumers the protections they deserve. These products are not alcoholic beverages – differing greatly in their effects on consumers as well as the way they are produced, tested, labeled and sold – and should not be regulated under our state’s liquor laws. THC beverages are derived from the cannabis plant and should be regulated under the state’s existing cannabis laws, which prioritize public health, safety, and industry oversight. We are eager to collaborate on a more appropriate path forward.”

* Rep. Carol Ammons…

Working to bring transformative change to Champaign-Urbana communities and statewide, state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, successfully advanced legislation filling crucial gaps in education and access to economic opportunities.

“Spearheading these bills, to me, is about restoring opportunity,” said Ammons. “Whether it’s through fairer licensing, access to education, or removing unnecessary barriers, we’re creating real pathways for all Illinoisans to prosper.”

In efforts to expand pathways for formerly incarcerated individuals, Ammons’ House Bill 3462 would refine licensing requirements for those with a criminal record — enforcing the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations (IDFPR) to evaluate licensing applications based on the manner of a person’s conviction, rather than if they possess “good moral character,” an ambiguous term used for justification of denial.

Plus, continuing her advocacy for expanded education for the incarcerated, Ammons’ House Bill 2466 would further support formerly incarcerated students by removing a provision that excludes them from the opportunity to participate in academic programs and financial aid, such as the monetary assistance program (MAP).

Ammons’ work also seeks to remove barriers that hinder those from practicing their profession. House Bill 3356 removes hair-braiding from the list of license cosmetology professions, allowing individuals to self-start in the hair braiding profession without having the financial obligation to pay IDFPR a licensing fee.

* Sen. Erica Harriss

Another deadline week has come and gone in the Senate as we inch closer to the adjournment of our spring legislative session at the end of May. We just wrapped up week seven of session, a week in which we had to pass Senate bills out of committee that we hope to pass this spring.

Last week, I was able to pass Senate Bill 2463 out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This is a bill I worked closely on with the Department of Natural Resources. It is intended to offset taxpayer costs in the event that an oil well operator fails to remediate a well they are responsible for after operations have ceased.

While I am thrilled to have passed a couple of bills out of committee, I have filed extensions on my bills that were assigned to committees but haven’t received a vote. Most of those bills relate to property taxes, with the goal of helping save Illinois residents money.

* WAND

A proposal moving in Springfield could require health insurance companies to cover prescription vitamins.

State employee, private insurance, and managed care plans would be forced to provide the new coverage for prescription vitamins starting January 1, 2027.

House Democrats said this policy will not apply to vitamins purchased over the counter, but Republicans still argue the bill will cause higher insurance premiums. […]

House Bill 3699 passed out of the House Insurance Committee on a partisan 11-5 vote. It now moves to the House for further consideration.

* KSDK

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s ambitious plan to allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees has hit a significant roadblock, exposing the complex political dynamics of higher education reform in Illinois.

The proposed legislation, House Bill 3717, would enable community colleges to grant bachelor’s degrees in applied fields, potentially transforming access to higher education for thousands of students. Despite Pritzker’s vocal support, the House Higher Education Committee declined to advance the bill last week.

“I’m glad to see negotiations continuing,” Chairwoman Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) said. “I think we need to focus on finding pathways for students to earn the credentials they need to support their careers and on supporting all our institutions of higher education across the state.’

For Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora), the proposal represents a personal mission. A Waubonsee Community College alumna who later transferred to Aurora University, she understands the financial challenges of higher education firsthand. “School is turning into more of a luxury at this point, and it is unfortunate,” Hernandez said. “I saved a lot of money by starting at community college.”

* Center Square

Illinois lawmakers are considering a slew of bills affecting gambling in the state. […]

One measure, Senate BIll 2145, would require fantasy sports companies to pay a fee to operate in the state and places a tax of up to 40% on their contest receipts. Tim Jensen of Real Time Fantasy Sports said the bill would end their Illinois operations.

“As a smaller operator, we have hundreds of Illinois players that have been with us for years if not decades, however, the half-million dollar licensing fee exceeds our total gross revenue for the state of Illinois and would effectively lock us out of the state,” said Jensen during a Senate Gaming, Wagering and Racing Committee hearing Tuesday. […]

State Sen. Christina Castro, D-Elgin, said if you want to play, you have to pay.

“Whether the tax the gaming board proposed is the right one I’m not sure, but it’s something to say I don’t want to be taxed, I don’t want to pay fees,” said Castro. “You want the privilege to do business in Illinois, guess what, you’re going to pay for that privilege.”

* Sen. Steve Stadelman…

Following an Illinois Supreme Court decision that weakened protections for journalists, State Senator Steve Stadelman is working to safeguard the rights of Illinoisans and news outlets to state their opinions in the media.

“This legislation is needed in order to protect media and what they do on a daily basis,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “We need to stand up for free press and speech, and this measure shows our efforts to do so.”

Senate Bill 1181 builds on existing law to ensure the Citizens Participation Act protects individuals and the press from lawsuits intended to silence or intimidate them, regardless of the motive behind the lawsuit. A Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) is a legal tactic used to silence or intimidate critics by burdening them with costly and time-consuming litigation, often targeting individuals or organizations who speak out on issues of public interest.

The Supreme Court ruled the state’s anti-SLAPP law did not protect media outlets or journalists. Stadelman’s legislation clarifies news organizations should be shielded from retaliatory lawsuits.

Senate Bill 1181 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last Wednesday.

  Comment      


More decline

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois “Leisure and Hospitality” employment grew by more than 56,000 between January of 2015 and January of 2019. It kept growing through 2019, then, of course, tanked during the pandemic. The sector peaked in February of 2020, but it was 17,400 below that level here as of the end of last year

The sector has been hard-hit everywhere, but it grew by 3 percent nationally from February of 2020 to December of last year, compared to the 3 percent decline in Illinois.

  32 Comments      


Sparks Fly At Nursing Home Industry Legislative Hearing

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Sparks flew in a high-drama House Human Services Committee hearing last week as Committee Chair Representative Anna Moeller and Representative Yolanda Morris called attention to nursing home owners falling short of meeting minimum safe staffing requirements, despite significant state investment intended to address staffing shortages.

The nursing home industry-backed HB2922 attempts to ease fines meant to enforce accountability for understaffing in facilities, even though nursing home owners previously asked for and received millions in tax breaks and additional state funding intended specifically to improve staffing levels.

Despite the resources provided by the state, way too many nursing homes continue to operate short staffed, resulting in real harm and ongoing risks to our seniors.

Rep. Morris, a former nursing home certified nursing assistant, highlighted the severity of staffing issues, “It’s time for you guys to learn how to start staffing up and be held accountable.”

Committee Chair Rep. Moeller added, “Why do we have to keep fighting the battle every year with the industry? Why can’t you just do what you’re supposed to do to take care of our seniors?”

Lawmakers Moeller and Morris underscored the critical need for accountability, emphasizing that the industry has received hundreds of millions of dollars in public resources meant to improve care for our seniors. Oppose HB2922, because the minimum required resident care can’t wait.

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Promises made…

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Background is here if you need it…

* Spam text message yesterday…

  39 Comments      


Pritzker: ‘We will not blindly follow illegal orders’ (Updated)

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Click here for the EO. From the Washington Post

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday requiring people to provide documents proving they are citizens when they register to vote, a mandate that experts said could prevent millions of Americans from voting.

The order reflects Trump’s long-standing fixation on election administration as well as his baseless claims following the 2016 and 2020 presidential races that both were riddled with fraud, particularly illegal voting by noncitizens. There is no evidence that widespread corruption, by noncitizens or others, tainted either contest.

Republicans in dozens of states have sought for decades to require voters to present identification to cast ballots, but Trump has taken that effort to a new level with an executive order establishing a federal mandate to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote.

The U.S. Constitution designates the power to regulate the “time, place and manner” of elections to the states, with the proviso that Congress can step in and override those laws. It gives no specific power to the president to do so. Election experts said that Trump was claiming power he does not have and that lawsuits over the measure were all but guaranteed. […]

Others suggested that the order reflects Trump’s desire to expand executive power — and for the Supreme Court to allow it. His order directs the Election Assistance Commission — an agency governed by statute enacted by Congress — to change the federal voter registration form to require government-issued documentary proof of citizenship.

Lots of his EOs are essentially performative.

* Gov. Pritzker press release…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement regarding Donald Trump’s executive order to attack free and fair elections in the United States:

“Voting is a fundamental right and sacred responsibility of every American. Yet, once again Donald Trump is ignoring the rule of law and circumventing Congress.

“We need to call this what it is: another illegal, extreme, and dangerous attempt to take power away from the American people and hand it over the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk, who wishes to decide which U.S. citizens can and can’t vote. ​

“We will not blindly follow illegal orders because Donald Trump wrote them down on a piece of paper. Illinois follows the laws of the land – not the decrees of an aspiring king hell bent on disenfranchising millions of voters who deserve to have their voice heard. ​

“In the face of these attacks on voting rights, Illinois will continue to administer free and fair elections while standing up for strong, secure, and accessible democracy.” ​

…Adding… Rep. West…

State Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford), Assistant Majority Leader and Chair of the Illinois House Ethics and Elections Committee, released the following statement responding to Donald Trump’s latest attack on Illinois’ electoral process:

“Illinois elections are secure, accessible, and fair. In recent years, the Illinois General Assembly has worked collaboratively with the Illinois State Board of Elections and local election authorities to enact legislative solutions with the goal of promoting civic engagement and ensuring all voters can cast their ballots in a safe, convenient manner.

“When Illinoisans go to the polls, they must have confidence that their vote will be counted quickly and accurately. Instead of engaging Congress or working with the states, Donald Trump is attempting to hand down illegal orders to interfere with our electoral process and potentially disenfranchise millions of people. This new effort comes after years of promoting bizarre, false election conspiracy theories, eroding trust in our democracy and its civic institutions.

“I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues to continue to strengthen our electoral system and ensure our votes are free from illegal interference by any outside actor – including the president. Illinois will follow the law, not Donald Trump’s whims.”

  24 Comments      


Intoxicating Hemp: No safety? No thanks!

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

A federal loophole has led to a booming gray market across Illinois for intoxicating hemp products, which use synthetics to alter the composition of hemp to get consumers high.

This is happening outside the structure of the state’s legal cannabis industry. This means intoxicating hemp faces NO quality testing, NO age restrictions, NO packaging requirements, NO potency rules, and NO taxes to fund programs in communities impacted by the War on Drugs. Most intoxicating hemp products aren’t even produced in Illinois. By contrast, Illinois cannabis businesses face extensive rules and regulations to operate, with products tracked from seed to sale. When consumers purchase legal cannabis grown and processed in Illinois, they know their products are safe.

Hemp and cannabis come from the same plant. Both products can get users high. Why the different rules? Illinois already has a system in place to regulate hemp – it’s called the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. It’s time for Illinois to close the intoxicating hemp loophole.

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Good morning!

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Grace Potter covers Fleetwood Mac with Gov’t Mule

You better put your kingdom up for sale

Keep the discussion Illinois-centric, please.

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Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Subscribers know more. ICYMI: ‘How is this going to work?’: Transit reform advocates far apart on major issues. Daily Herald

    - House Transportation: Regulation, Roads and Bridges Committee Chair Marty Moylan said he wants answers on outstanding issues about a $3.9 billion CTA pension debt, crime prevention and overtime before forwarding any legislation.
    - One proposal would abolish the boards of Metra, Pace, the CTA and the Regional Transportation Authority to create a superagency called the Metropolitan Mobility Authority. A second would empower the RTA to manage fares, capital projects and planning.
    - Rep. Moylan encouraged bill sponsors to find common ground, “We’re not very far apart.”

* Related…

* BlueRoomStream.com’s coverage of today’s press conferences and committee hearings can be found here.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Illinois AG pushes for more funding amid legal battles with Trump administration: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is pushing for additional funding for his office as it takes on a host of lawsuits and legal filings against actions by the Trump administration. “What we want to make clear to the legislature is that we’re a good investment, right? And it’s not a time to disinvest in our office,” Raoul said in an interview.

* Subscribers knew about the lawsuit Monday. Tribune | Sen. Michael Hastings alleges smear campaign in 2022 tight race to hold office: State Sen. Michael Hastings alleges in a lawsuit that Republican operators conspired to organize a “smear campaign” leading up to the November 2022 election, which included sending out what the Frankfort Democrat’s lawsuit describes as obscene text messages to voters. The lawsuit, filed Feb. 28, alleges a conspiracy to “execute a malicious text-message campaign designed to defame, humiliate and harass” Hastings leading up to the Nov. 8, 2022, election.

* WICS | HIRE360 offers life-changing career paths for central Illinois through trades: With nearly $5 million in funding from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s CEJA Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, HIRE360 has expanded its reach to central Illinois. Now, its first class is set to graduate on Saturday, marking a major milestone in workforce development.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Capitol News Illinois | Raoul joins motion to block dismantling of U.S. Education Department: In a motion filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, the coalition of Democratic attorneys general are seeking a preliminary injunction to block the mass firing of half the agency’s employees, which Trump ordered March 11, as well as the transfer of student loan management and special education services to other federal agencies.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Harvey World Herald | As state cracks down on delinquent audits, Mayor Chris Clark addresses financial reporting concerns: Mayor Chris Clark responded to critcism over the administration’s ongoing financial reporting challenges at the council’s regular meeting on March 10, focusing on the finance department’s compliance with municipal code and absent treasurer reports. But what Harvey’s top official neglected to mention was a state crackdown on delinquent audits. Criticism flies that city officials aren’t financially transparent, with City Treasurer Aisha Pickett barely giving regular reports.

* Sun-Times | Race, wealth disparities underlie turnout for ballot questions hitting voters’ wallets: An analysis from the Cook County treasurer’s office — ahead of the April 1 suburban consolidated elections — reveals turnout on tax-related referendums is highest in areas that are predominately white, wealthy and mostly homeowners.

* Shaw Local | 2 Joliet Junior College trustees create ‘hostile atmosphere’ for president, staff: report: Joliet Junior College’s president claimed two members of the Board of Trustees harassed him, with one causing him to fear for his safety, according to an independent report following an investigation by a law firm.

* Daily Herald | Mount Prospect trustee candidate owes $32,000 in back property taxes: Mount Prospect village board candidate Jack Brogan owes more than $32,000 in overdue property taxes for four residential parcels he plans to develop along Golf Road. Brogan, who is running as a write-in candidate, acknowledged he is late with the tax payments, but said he has been approved for a construction loan and will pay the taxes. He said he plans to construct three homes on the property and his banker advised him to pay the taxes when he is ready to build.

* CBS Chicago | Show of support for Lynwood, Illinois mayor after questions about her salary: On Monday night, CBS News Chicago’s Lauren Victory pressed the mayor about her salary, and why she is taking home nearly triple the amount in the budget for her position. Before Curry was elected four years ago, an ordinance drastically reduced the mayoral salary from $85,000 to $20,000 a year. […] Curry is currently paid for three different positions — village president at $20,000, cannabis commissioner at $5,000, liquor commissioner at $10,000. That amounts to a grand total of $35,000 in the village budget.

* Daily Southtown | Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere cited after accident with child bicyclist: Jacqueline Traynere, the past Democratic Leader from Bolingbrook, was involved in the accident about 8:15 a.m. March 11 at the intersection of Lily Cache and Lindsey lanes in Bolingbrook, a police report said. […] The child fell off the bike and was uninjured, the report said. […] The witness told police she observed the driver of the car check on the child but then drive east on Lily Cache Lane, according to the police report.

* Daily Herald | Police: Skeletal remains found in missing Elgin woman’s car: Schepers was 23 when she disappeared after attending a party with coworkers at a Carpentersville bar in 1983. Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley said Tuesday morning that a search of the river on Monday by the department and Chaos Divers, a group that uses sonar to search for people suspected missing in bodies of water, yielded a vehicle with the license plate XP8919, which matched the 1980 Toyota Celica owned by Schepers.

* CBS Chicago | 1 subdivision in Lisle, Illinois gets its water through private company, and has much higher bills: In all, about 350 customers in Lisle get their water from Illinois American Water rather than the village. “We can’t even have village water, even though we’re taxpayers and village residents,” said Srail. So how much more do families like Srail’s pay? Every two months, a typical homeowner would pay more than $100 if they get water from Illinois American — and those are the charges even before one drop of water flows.

* Shaw Local | Federal funding cuts delay Sterling-Rock Falls fire training facility construction: Rock Falls Deputy Fire Chief Kyle Sommers said the departments are losing $825,000 in federal Community Project Funding appropriations they had planned to use to build a burn tower where firefighters from both communities could train in live-fire conditions. […] However, Sommers said that despite their CPF allocation request having made it out of the Appropriations Committee last fall, it was part of ongoing temporary spending bills. The final spending bill eliminated CPF requests.

* Shaw Local | Niles West removed former coach Nick Torresso after numerous violations. He denies all allegations.: Niles Township High Schools District 219 originally placed Torresso on indefinite suspension with pay from his coaching and teaching duties at the school on Oct. 1 after complaints of “improper treatment of students and staff.” The district’s Board of Education unanimously approved Torresso’s dismissal as football coach on Dec. 10 after a district investigation found that Torresso violated three board policies.

*** Downstate ***

* 25News Now | Rivian on ‘accelerated’ construction schedule for massive plant expansion in Normal: The automaker on Tuesday released a construction update including visual proof of progress that’s being made on building a 1.1 million square foot addition on the east side of the existing plant, plus new space for paint, battery, and material flow. […] When the expansion is finished, the plant in Normal will have the capacity to make 215,000 EV’s a year, according to the company’s release.

* WAND | Construction projects start work across central Illinois: In Champaign, the largest projects are taking place where Interstate 57 and Interstate 74 intersect. “There’s going to be three ramp closures, to facilitate traffic movements to the outside lanes of I-74,” said Paul Wappel, Spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Transportation. “This will allow for the removal and replacement of the remaining inner portions of the I-74 over the I-57 bridge. This will also allow for completion of all I-74 pavement. Late summer or early fall, I-57 paving will begin there. By the end of the year, we hope to have all the ramps open.”

* PJ Star | ‘Target on our backs’: Why Peoria donating a fire engine to Ukraine sparked concerns: The city will donate the engine, which was scheduled to be retired from the fleet, to Ukraine via the Mossville-based organization US Ambulances for Ukraine at no cost to the city. The motion to donate the fire engine passed 8-2 with councilmembers Mike Vespa and Kiran Velpula both vocalizing concerns with the timing of the donation, with Vespa going further saying he worried the donation could put a “target” on Peoria from a “vindictive” President Donald Trump.

* WICS | Springfield’s District 186 considers cuts amid funding concerns: Springfield’s District 186 is evaluating potential budget cuts over the next three years, with a focus on minimizing the impact on classrooms. The district has proposed a deficit reduction plan due to concerns about state and federal funding. Superintendent Jennifer Gill emphasized the district’s commitment to maintaining essential services. “We want to keep these cuts as far away from the classroom as possible,” she said.

* WAND | Full cleanup, demolition set for former Pillsbury Plant in Springfield: Moving Pillsbury Forward (MPF) has officially signed contracts to fully clean up and demolish all remaining structures at the site within the next 12 months. “The neighborhood, the 12,000 people that in within one mile of this site have needed this to happen for a number of years,” said Chris Richmond, President of Moving Pillsbury Forward.

* WTVO | Whiskey made in northern Illinois advances to Top 8 in 2025 Maker’s Madness contest: Whiskey Acres Blue Popcorn Bourbon, made in northern Illinois, has advanced to the final 8 “coolest products made in Illinois” in the state’s 2025 “Maker’s Madness” contest. The bourbon is made by Whiskey Acres Distilling Co., in DeKalb.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Johnson warned to seek Council OK before taking action to cover $175M CPS pension payment: Fifteen independent City Council members put Mayor Brandon Johnson on notice Tuesday: Any move he makes to use city funds to cover a $175 million pension for nonteaching school employees must be made with legislative consent. Johnson does not have the votes on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education to approve a borrowing or refinancing measure after seven board members declared their opposition to the mayor’s favored option. As a result, the mayor is now on the clock to come up with a plan B before city auditors close the books Monday on 2024.

* Crain’s | Choose Chicago targets Long Island tourism exec as new CEO: Board members at the city’s tourism agency are in advanced talks to hire Discover Long Island President & CEO Kristen Reynolds as Choose Chicago’s new chief executive, according to sources familiar with the matter. No deal has been completed, but the board’s search committee targeted Reynolds as its top choice after a roughly yearlong hunt to find a new permanent leader for the organization.

* South Side Weekly | Police District Councilor Threatened: A social media post that a 10th Police District Council member made about a police-involved killing has sparked complaints and recriminations between her and two alderpersons. The district councilor, Kiisha Smith, said that a letter Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd Ward) and Ald. Monique Scott (24th) disseminated about the post led to her receiving an anonymous threat. Scott, who also told a pastor he shouldn’t host the district council’s meeting at a Lawndale church, denied the threat was connected to the letter.

* Crain’s | Chicago home price growth more than doubled the national rate in February: For most of the 2010s, Chicago’s home prices lagged the nation, and even when the pandemic and super-low interest rates sparked a housing boom, prices here rallied but didn’t reach the fizzy heights of places like Phoenix and Miami. That’s all changed. As they have for months now, home prices in Chicago rose again robustly in February, not only growing at more than twice the pace of the nation’s prices, but also widening the gap more with each passing month.

* CBS Chicago | Loyola Ramblers didn’t make NCAA Tournament, but are geared up for NIT quarterfinals: Head Coach Drew Valentine and the Loyola Ramblers missed out on making the NCAA Tournament despite a solid season in the Atlantic Ten. But the Ramblers are making the most of a second chance to keep playing in March. They are staying locked in as they prepare for the NIT quarterfinals in what has been a competitive tournament for them so far — having won the first two games by a combined four points.

*** National ***

* The 21st Show | Should Section 230 be repealed?: The shield is to prevent liability for immunity, provide immunity for what’s posted by third parties on these interactive computer services. And then the sword aspect of it is that it allows these… interactive computer services to go in and say, ‘I’m going to remove this material.’ And if they do that with good faith intentions, then their decisions to remove material will not subject them to liability by third parties who say, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t have taken that down. We’re going to sue you because you took that down. You’ve removed material of mine that should have been kept up.’ So that’s kind of a basic overview of Section 230. It’s a shield. It’s a sword.

* WaPo | Vaccine skeptic hired to head federal study of immunizations and autism: The Department of Health and Human Services has hired David Geier to conduct the analysis, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. Geier and his father, Mark Geier, have published papers claiming vaccines increase the risk of autism, a theory that has been studied for decades and scientifically debunked.

* US News | Moody’s Says US Fiscal Strength on Course for Continued Decline: It projects debt to gross domestic product, a key ratio in assessing a country’s finances, will rise to around 130% by 2035 from nearly 100% in 2025. Debt affordability will worsen at a faster rate, with interest payments accounting for 30% of revenue by 2035 from 9% in 2021, it said.

* WaPo | Trump administration cuts national database tracking domestic terrorism: Jensen said this cancellation comes at a time when their data revealed the first two months of 2025 saw a 25 percent increase in terrorism and targeted violence incidents compared to the first two months of last year.

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition (Updated)

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Selected press releases (Live updates)

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller

  Comment      


Live coverage

Wednesday, Mar 26, 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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« NEWER POSTS PREVIOUS POSTS »
* Selected react to budget reconciliation bill passage (Updated x3)
* Reader comments closed for Independence Day
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Some fiscal news
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated)
* RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
* Groups warn about plan that doesn't appear to be in the works
* SB 328: Separating Lies From Truth
* Campaign news: Big Raja money; Benton over-shares; Rashid's large cash pile; Jeffries to speak at IDCCA brunch
* Rep. Hoan Huynh jumps into packed race for Schakowsky’s seat (Updated)
* Roundup: Pritzker taps Christian Mitchell for LG
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition (Updated)
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Live coverage
* Trump admin freezes $240 million in grants for Illinois K-12 schools
* Yesterday's stories

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