* ICYMI: Demand for abortion pills spiked in Illinois, countrywide after Trump reelection. Sun-Times…

- Calls to Planned Parenthood Illinois surged 15% in the days immediately after the election, with wait times doubling to as much as 20 minutes.
- Hey Jane, a New York-based health care company that provides sexual telehealth services, reported a 74% increase in medication abortion patients in Illinois the week after the election.
- And sales in abortion pills have skyrocketed across the country. Telehealth company Wisp reported a 600% increase in abortion pill orders between Election Day and the following day.

* Related stories…

∙ KFVS: Demand for emergency contraception in Mo. increases following election
∙ Tribune: After Trump win, Illinois providers report a spike in demand for abortion pills, birth control and sterilizations
∙ US News: The Lone Surgical Abortion Clinic in Wyoming Has a Message For America

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Chalkbeat Chicago | Ballot challenges, big money, information gaps: How Chicago’s first school board elections played out: Forty-seven Chicagoans — including 10 in District 10 alone — tried to run for school board. But just four made it on the ballot here: Robert Jones, a pastor supported by the Chicago Teachers Union who once joined a hunger strike to keep a local high school open; Karin Norington-Reaves, a nonprofit CEO and mother of a blind CPS student who had run for Congress and got backing from pro-school choice super PACs; Adam Parrot-Sheffer, a CPS parent, former district principal, and education consultant; and Che “Rhymefest” Smith, a self-funded Grammy Award-winning rapper and activist.

* WGN | NIU Storm Chasers: Researcher team help national effort to advance hail forecasting: A group of 100 scientists, including professors and students from NIU and several other universities, will chase hailstorms next spring with the goal of advancing hail forecasting. The last field campaign to study hail in the United States was in the 1970s, and the results of that still drive the modeling and forecasting methods that we use today.

*** Statehouse News ***

* WGN | City Club of Chicago: Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton : The Lieutenant Governor is a highly qualified, experienced advocate for women’s rights, civil rights, and restorative justice. Her career is dedicated to making Illinois the best state to call home, especially for those who have been historically left out or behind. With any initiative or policy proposal, her focus is on uplifting every resident and ensuring they have the resources to thrive.

*** Statewide ***

* ABC Chicago | President-elect Trump plan to use military in mass deportations raising alarm in Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker said it would be uncalled for and possibly unconstitutional. “We, of course, are deeply concerned about, you know, the president of the United States calling out military inside the United States, where people are peaceful, even if there may be people who are undocumented,” Pritzker said.

Illinois is 10th on swings toward ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩
⁦@Redistrict⁩ pic.twitter.com/x4XFzwgzt7

— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) November 19, 2024

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Progressive Caucus co-chair accuses mayor of posturing in talks to cut failed property tax hike: Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) characterized the negotiating session he participated in more than a week ago as the “great beginning of a conversation” and a healthy “exchange of ideas.” But there were no agreements made or commitments given. “There was nothing landed on. There was no $150 million [in cuts]. There were ideas on how to bring it down without anyone agreeing to anything,” Vasquez said.

* Crain’s | Chicago hotel owners to Kaegi: We’re not doing as well as you think: “These outrageous assessments by the Cook County Assessor are not commensurate with the reality facing most hotel owners,” IHLA President and CEO Michael Jacobson said in a statement. “While we have seen many improvements and certainly had boosts to visitation from large-scale events this year, we are nowhere near pre-pandemic levels when it comes to profitability or occupancy. As hotels continue to work to recover, invest in our employees, and return to our place as an economic engine for the city, we cannot afford any unnecessary or unjustifiable expenses.”

* Crain’s | Report of extravagant spending is latest blow to National Association of Realtors: The Chicago-based National Association of Realtors, which has struggled for more than a year with the fallout of a broad sexual harassment scandal, took another hit today when The New York Times published a detailed exposé of extravagant spending by top executives and volunteers. Debra Kamin reported for the Times that former CEO Bob Goldberg’s perks included the NAR paying for his memberships at private clubs in Chicago and Washington, where the NAR’s second office is, as well as monthly stipends to cover his utility bills and car, and an agreement to pay for his pet sitter when he traveled. That was on top of his salary, which in five years more than doubled, from $1.2 million to $2.6 million.

* Sun-Times | Joey ‘The Clown’ Lombardo’s FBI files show Chicago Outfit boss complaining about government inspectors: Known for a wicked sense of humor as well as a penchant for violence, the late Chicago Outfit boss Joseph Lombardo was known as “Joey the Clown.” But newly released FBI files on the hoodlum, who died in 2019, showed he also could be, well, kind of prickly.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark to run with a slate for supervisor, Tiffany Henyard, incumbent trustees yet to announce: The Reform Thornton Township Party filed a slate of candidates with Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark running for supervisor and Corean Davis, Rachel Jones, Dominique Randle-El and Jacinta Gholston running for trustee. Davis is Harvey city administrator and Randle-El is Harvey 5th Ward alderman. […] While Henyard and the incumbent trustees did not file, major party candidates in township elections can be determined by caucus, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

* WGN | Two trustees skipping Tuesday’s Thornton Township board meeting amidst Tiffany Henyard’s spending concerns: Trustees opposed to Henyard said skipping the meeting will prevent votes on Henyard’s agenda items. The opponents also said they hope it could force a public vote to appoint a new trustee.

* Daily Herald | Long-serving mayors in Batavia, Geneva to face challengers in spring election: Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke, who has been in office almost 44 years, is being challenged by former alderman Thomas Connelly. Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns will face Karsten Pawlik in his bid for reelection. Burns has been mayor since 2001. Pawlik is operations manager for a demolition company owned by his wife.

* Tribune | As a polarizing eight years comes to an end, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx looks forward to a break from the spotlight: Foxx’s supporters laud her as a trailblazer, noting her early support of the historic bail reform measure that took effect last year, her expungement of past marijuana convictions and a sharp focus on wrongful convictions that led to hundreds of exonerations over her tenure. But she has often been a lightning rod for criticism of her style of progressive prosecution, from conservative critics nationally, Chicago’s former police superintendent and the Fraternal Order of Police, some longtime attorneys in her office and the Democratic candidate who will replace her. Her posture, they said, signaled the office was soft on crime.

* Daily Southtown | More than 50,000 people came to Southland casino in first week, officials say: The casino itself is in East Hazel Crest and adjacent parking garages are in Homewood. The two communities have a revenue sharing agreement that’s been in place since 2012, and some of the gaming revenue will flow to more than 40 other south suburbs. The casino’s parking lot as well as parking garage quickly filled to capacity the first day, and Wind Creek staff at one point had to direct people to turn around.

* Center Square | Governor touts EV charging port in Joliet, state partnership with ComEd: The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded a $480,000 grant to Veterans Energy Team, a local veteran-owned business that partnered with the Joliet Park District to build EV fast chargers at Inwood Athletic Club and Nowell Park. Pritzker said the state has distributed more than $69 million under CEJA since June of last year to support EV chargers across the state.

* NBC Chicago | Southwest suburban DMV location permanently closing: The Illinois Secretary of State’s Lockport facility, 1029 31 E. 9th St., is permanently closing on Nov. 25, according to a Facebook post from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office. A reason for the closure wasn’t given. Drivers are instead encouraged to visit the Joliet DMV facility, 201 Joyce Rd., which will remain open. While certain services must be performed in-person at a driver’s services facility, a number of tasks can be completed online, such as renewing a driver’s license or ID card, making a facility appointment or submitting an address change.

*** Downstate ***

* The 21st Show | How anti-abortion activists are responding to Carbondale’s controversial “buffer zone” ordinance: Anti-abortion protesters became a regular presence outside a few clinics offering reproductive health services in Carbondale and last year, the city council responded with a “buffer zone” ordinance to protect the clinincs. But that set off a legal fight of its own over free speech rights and even though the city council repealed the ordinance, the fight continues — and could matter far beyond the Carbondale city limits.

* WCIA | Danville School Board to discuss threats against superintendent at upcoming meeting: According to Geddis, the threats have been happening since the summer. In May, Geddis said she asked a truck with Confederate flags to take their flags down during a graduation ceremony. Shortly after that, she said she was being followed by trucks with Confederate flags. said that she continued to see these flags at school offices and at her home.

* WCIA | Massey Commission praises DOJ investigation, makes more recommendations in second meeting: The Sonya Massey Commission is not taking the credit for the U.S. Department of Justice opening an investigation into the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office and the Sangamon County Dispatch, but they are happy that it’s happening. “I think it’s important to go back that far in order to really capture some of the underlying issues,” Sunshine Clemons, co-president of Springfield Black Lives Matter and a member of the Sonya Massey Commission said. “I think you don’t go back far enough. We’re just going to have some surface resolutions and maybe not really see the full extent of issues that could be there.”

* SJ-R | Massey Commission endorses resolution for county mental health board: Meeting with full membership for the second time Monday, the Massey Commission passed a resolution throwing its support for the creation of a 708 Mental Health Board in Sangamon County. The referendum could go before voters on April 1 if it passes the Sangamon County Board. Those same voters could also consider implementing “recall authority” for the sheriff’s office.

* WAND | Decatur residents call upon City Council to revise next year’s budget: Many community members are calling on the city to reduce its expenses and explore alternative revenue sources, such as attracting new businesses and permitting cannabis sales. One community member spoke during public comment stating “The city and the council are putting the burden of debt on the backs of the taxpaying citizens. Why is the answer for budget shortfalls- oh let’s just increase taxes?”

* WCIA | Champaign Co. State’s Attorney breaks down legalities behind ‘use of force’ following 2 shootings: Deadly force has been used twice in the past two weekends in Champaign County. After a road rage shooting over the weekend, the Champaign County State’s Attorney is breaking down the law behind uses of force, and when it would be justified to use a gun on someone.

* WTTW | What Happens When a Prison Closes? Dwight’s Demise 10 Years Ago Highlights Current Issues in Illinois Facilities: “I would like to ask the commission and the governor to reconsider this closing,” Bill Wilkey, then the village president of Dwight, said at the hearing. Wilkey was afraid the closure could worsen the economic impact felt on the village that had recently seen two car dealerships close and a printing plant cut its workforce. The shuttering of the prison could leave incarcerated women farther from their families, he said, as many of them were from the Chicago area. It was a similar sentiment shared by Dwight residents.

*** National ***

* WaPo | FBI investigating post-election text threats sent to Latino, LGBTQ people: “Some recipients reported being told they were selected for deportation or to report to a reeducation camp,” the agency said in a statement Friday, adding that some threats were sent by email as well. It was not immediately clear how many messages were sent by the anonymous users, but thousands more messages — and the numbers sending them — were blocked by wireless carriers once they were made aware of the situation, according to Nick Ludlum, senior vice president of CTIA, a trade group for the U.S. wireless communications industry.