|
Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers know more. Politico…
* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois’ abortion landscape continues to evolve amid persistent growth in demand: The Chicago Abortion Fund, which provides financial, logistical and material assistance to abortion seekers, is the largest of its kind in the nation. Since June 2022, the fund has assisted more than 60,000 callers and distributed more than $25 million in direct support. In 2025, about 13,760 people, or 43% of the nearly 32,000 people who came to Illinois from out-of-state, were given direct support from the fund, an increase from the 28% of callers who received that level of support in 2024, according to data released by the group. * Tribune | Workers plan to strike at six Illinois Prime Healthcare hospitals: The union members include workers who maintain HVAC systems, plumbing and other systems, according to the union, and they work across six hospitals: Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago; Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago; Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines; Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago; Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston; and Saint Joseph Hospital in Elgin. Saint Elizabeth is closed, but workers still maintain the building, according to a union spokesperson. The strike comes after the union filed 10 unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board earlier this month against Prime hospitals and MedSpace Services, which is a subsidiary of Prime Healthcare Management, Inc. * Capitol News Illinois | ‘A Legacy Brand Sunset’: Illinois Radio Stations Reckon With CBS News Radio’s Shutdown: In Chicago, WBBM Newsradio was among the Audacy stations left searching for a replacement after CBS News Radio announced it would end its services. As late as April, it was unclear what would fill the gap, until the station switched to ABC News Radio one day before CBS News Radio went silent, according to the Chicago Tribune. For some downstate Illinois stations, however, the switch came seamlessly. Tammy Sondgeroth, general manager of NRG Media Ottawa, which operates WCMY, said the station moved to NBC News Radio almost immediately after learning of the closure. * Payments Dive | Buy now, pay later groups ‘neutral’ on Illinois bill : The Illinois bill “is probably an indication of growing interest in states picking up from where the CFPB has backtracked,” Saunders said Monday in an interview. Under the law, BNPL players operating in Illinois would be licensed and overseen by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The measure – which defines a BNPL loan as one with a term of 120 days or less – also mandates a dispute resolution process and refunds for consumers. * WGN | Illinois Secretary of State announces more than $27M in grants to libraries across state: The Secretary of State’s office is awarding more than $22.6 million through its annual Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grant programs, which represents a 15% increase over last year’s grants. A total of 640 public libraries in Illinois will receive $20.6 million in Per Capita Grants to support books and multilingual materials, internet access, digital resources, staffing, community programming and facility improvements. Funding amounts were calculated according to a formula based on the population of each community. * Capitol City Now | Illinois junk fees ban arrives on Pritzker’s desk: The plan makes it unlawful for any business to advertise, display, or offer a price for products or services that does not include all mandatory fees or surcharges before taxes. Sponsors said junk fees cost an average family of four $3,200 annually. * Sun-Times | Chicago sues Airbnb and a host company for alleged improper rentals: The complaint filed Monday in Cook County Circuit Court alleged that real estate broker Milan Rubenstein and his company, Slumber Stay LLC, did not properly register his short-term rentals and used a single nontransferable hotel license for multiple listings — then kept renting those units after being issued citations. Airbnb was accused of profiting from those allegedly unlawful rentals rather than working with the city to ensure compliance with the Shared Housing Ordinance. * CBS Chicago | Mayor Johnson addresses call for Chicago Department of Gun Violence Prevention: “A particular advocacy group has been calling for such an office to exist through multiple administrations, and we’re going to continue to hear how the work that we’re doing to drive violence down can work in coordination with the visit that this organization and organizing apparatus has,” Mayor Johnson said. A proposed ordinance to create the Department of Gun Violence Prevention would bring together existing violence reduction programs under one umbrella, with more than $100 million allocated in the city’s budget. * Press release | 40th Ward Dems Youth Organizer Fighting to Recover After Devastating Car Accident; Friends, Colleagues & Chicago Politicos Rally Support: Truman Community College student Ana “Rey,” a well-known fixture since childhood in the 40th Ward Democrats office, is fighting to recover after a severe traumatic brain injury suffered in a car accident on April 25, 2026. 40th Ward Committeeperson, Maggie O’Keefe, who has mentored Ana since she was in eighth grade – later making Ana Deputy Committeeperson – is spearheading a fundraising campaign to help cover the cost of her care while also working on policy solutions to improve Illinois Medicaid coverage. “Ana walked into my office when she was in eighth grade, determined to be involved in the community that raised her,” said Maggie O’Keefe, 40th Ward Committeeperson. “Now it’s our turn to help her. When we found out that her insurance–Illinois Medicaid–will not cover the physical therapy she needs, we knew she would need more help than her friends and family alone could give her.” * Block Club | Chicago’s Bike Lanes Don’t Hurt Businesses, City Report Finds: The Chicago Department of Transportation last month published a report on the economic impacts of bike lanes that examined six commercial corridors with different types of bike lane projects. Researchers analyzed data as well as surveys and interviews with local businesses, residents and real estate developers. The case studies compared the surveyed areas with “control” corridors nearby, and looked at the change in sales tax revenue, commercial property vacancy and employment, as well as safety and bike usage data since the lanes were installed. * Block Club | Work Begins On Bronzeville Trail, The South Side’s 1st Elevated Bike Path: Members of the Bronzeville Trail Task Force — joined by State Rep. Kimberly du Buclet and Bronzeville Community Farm’s Rosalyn “Roz” Owens — were on hand to mark a milestone signaling that work to convert the two-mile abandoned rail into a public park is officially underway. “The soil borings beginning here at 45th and State Street may look like technical work, but they represent something much bigger. It will reconnect communities, create new public space, support health and wellness, strengthen local businesses, and bring new energy to this historic neighborhood,” said du Buclet. * NYT | Barack Obama Has Strong Opinions About Cheeseburgers: The chef Cliff Rome said President Obama — once called “Foodie-in-Chief” by People Magazine — told him that the burger that would end up on the menu at the Obama Presidential Center was missing a few essential ingredients. Namely, it needed a smear of yellow mustard and the bite of a sharp Cheddar. “He had a lot of opinions on what makes a good cheeseburger,” said Mr. Rome, who was tapped by the Obamas to conceptualize and run two restaurants, Tafari’s Kitchen and a casual cafe, on the center’s campus in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. * Naperville Sun | 171 townhouses proposed for one-time Naperville hockey arena site: But the site’s location at 2255 Monarch Drive, at the northwest corner of Ferry Road and Comfort Drive, is raising some issues for city staff. Anna Franco, a member of the city’s planning services team, said staff is concerned about the inconsistency of the proposed single-family attached housing with the site’s designation in the land use master plan. The future use for the property calls for a “regional center,” and Franco said townhouse-style units are not listed as a primary or supporting use within that designation. * Tribune | Feds: Owner of Oak Lawn methadone clinic stole millions, funded lavish lifestyle including yacht ‘Butt Nekkid’: The charges were part of a nationwide effort called the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which the U.S. Justice Department says resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, involving more than $6.5 billion in false claims and “significant patient harm.” According to the charges, Robinson is the owner of ODA Solutions, a clinic that offers both substance abuse services and mental health services from the same site in the 4200 block of West 95th Street in Oak Lawn. * Daily Herald | ‘This is huge’: Major League Baseball to hold America250 event at suburban drive-in: The theater was one of four drive-ins nationally selected by MLB as part of its America250 celebration on July 4. The festivities will include a showing of the classic childhood baseball movie “The Sandlot” and a live screening of that night’s Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals game. They’ll also have MLB Ballpark Bites and baseball-themed activities, including Wiffle ball, a pop fly scramble and virtual batting cages. * Daily Herald | Rolling Meadows to outsource garbage collection after long haul of in-house service: Aldermen will vote on a proposed 5-year contract with Lakeshore Recycling Services to pick up refuse, landscape waste and recycling from single-family homes throughout town, in a deal that would provide notable cost savings for residents, city officials said. At the same time, the council will take a preliminary first reading vote on a separate 10-year lease extension with Lakeshore, which has operated the city-owned transfer station at 3851 Berdnick St. for the past three decades. * Pioneer Press | Winnetka Music Festival celebrates 10 years of bringing world-class talent to the suburbs: For its 10th anniversary, the two-day festival welcomed more than two dozen artists to the stage, with headliners Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Father John Misty performing alongside notable musical acts like Grace Potter, Jonah Kagen, Petey USA, Ben Kweller, Futurebirds and more. * WCIA | Wiz Khalifa joins Grandstand lineup for Illinois State Fair: On Tuesday, it was announced that Wiz Khalifa will be performing at the Illinois State Fair Grandstand on Wednesday, Aug. 19. He is joining the likes of Ella Langley, Ziggy Marley, The Chicks and Bailey Zimmerman at this year’s festival. It was also announced that Wiz Khalifa will be performing at the Du Quoin State Fair Grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 29. * Illinois Times | Rolling out the welcome mat: Springfield seeks to capitalize on Route 66 centennial, America 250: Being the host city as the starting point for the Great Race is something of a Super Bowl event for people such as Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau director Scott Dahl. The competition to be the host city is fierce, as two additional days of festivities accompany it. The vintage cars are the major attraction, as gearheads the world over come to see and, if they’re lucky, take one for a spin. The route to Pasadena will traverse much of Route 66. * WAND | Café vendor opportunity open at future Springfield-Sangamon County Transportation Hub: The county is offering incentives to attract businesses, such as a basic commercial kitchen and potential subsidies on rent and utilities. Two informational sessions are planned to explain The HUB space and RFP requirements. They will be available in person, virtually, and will be recorded. * SJ-R | Roughly 175-year-old ‘witness tree’ officially removed in Springfield: A tree dating from the time Abraham Lincoln and his family lived at a home at Eighth and Jackson streets in Springfield was removed June 19, a little more than a week after storms irreparably damaged it. * WaPo | CDC’s chief blocked a covid vaccine study. Now it’s in a top medical journal: The study, which had been slated for publication in March in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, found that the covid-19 vaccine reduced the risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by about half last winter. The findings were consistent with what researchers have found in past years, that the vaccine can help reduce the risk of severe illness in adults even after accounting for immunity from prior vaccination or infection. “Science was never the issue,” said Michelle Barron, one of the study’s authors and senior medical director of infection prevention and control for UCHealth, a nonprofit health system in Colorado. “Certainly it was within [the CDC’s] purview to keep it out, for whatever reason, but it was clearly not for scientific reasons that the study was withheld from publication in the MMWR.” * Bloomberg | Trump orders U.S. to speed quantum adoption, boost cyber defenses: Trump said the first order would launch an effort to create a quantum computer capable of performing important scientific calculations. White House officials, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of the signing, said they believed a computer could be developed by 2028. The order also calls on agencies to work on plans to deploy quantum-enabled sensors and networks in the next five years, the officials said. The order also supports coordination with allies to protect quantum intellectual property and bolster supply chains.
|
|
Et tu, Greg Abbott?
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * March, 2022…
* March, 2023…
* January, 2025…
* September, 2025…
* June, 2026…
* Today…
|
|
Pritzker asked about special sessions for Bears, school funding
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Bears…
Please pardon any transcription errors.
* IFT…
He hasn’t talked about a data center special session.
|
|
Rate Pritzker’s new TV ad
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Press release…
* The spot… * Transcript…
|
|
Today’s quotable: Pritzker on data center regulations
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Gov. Pritzker was asked about data center regulations yesterday…
Discuss.
|
|
Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: ‘Broadview Six’ damage spreads with review of 20 years of one prosecutor’s cases. Sun-Times…
- Ten defendants in three cases handled by Mecklenburg have now seen their federal charges permanently dropped as a result of the grand jury controversy in Boutros’ office. - Boutros said his office will be conducting “an individualized review and assessment of all available grand jury minutes” of Mecklenburg’s Chicago tenure since 2007, estimating that the review will encompass “more than 100 grand jury cases.” * Related stories… * At 11 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will deliver remarks at the Amrize Ribbon Cutting ceremony. Click here to watch. * CBS Chicago | Illinois Accountability Commission chair says fresh wave of ICE arrests has begun, with new tactics in play: Ruben Castillo, former chief judge of the federal court for Northern Illinois, told CBS News Chicago he is watching for signs of a tactical shift under new Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin — months after a spring surge that many expected never materialized following last year’s Operation Midway Blitz sweep. “We are going to take a different approach that can be more effective and less public-facing,” Mullin said in remarks obtained by CBS News. * Rep. Curtis Tarver | Southeast Side, or Hammond, should beat Arlington Heights for Bears: I am asking the Bears to give South Works and the South Lakefront a full, serious feasibility review. Envision a Museum Campus South plus Quantum. This is a vision we can build upon rather than displace. We can connect world-class museums, sports, science, health care, education, lakefront access, jobs, small businesses and neighborhood revival. That would be a citywide development strategy, not old Chicago with new renderings. * Aurora Beacon-News | State Sen. Linda Holmes, an Aurora Democrat, to retire at the end of current term after 20 years: “Living with Multiple Sclerosis for the past 37 years has shaped my perspective and strengthened my commitment to public service,” she said in a statement on her website. “While I have been fortunate to manage this disease for many years with few symptoms, it is now time for me to slow down and focus on my health.” Holmes was first elected to represent the 42nd District in 2006, defeating then-Will County Board member Terri Ann Wintermute in the race for a seat that had long been held by Republican Sen. Ed Petka. Before that, Holmes served on the Kane County Board. * Sun-Times | Bears stadium fail wasn’t Pritzker’s only fumble — his affordable housing plan also went nowhere: According to Democratic lawmakers, the major sticking point was a provision creating a statewide zoning standard for “middle housing.” “I recognized from my own local government background that the one size fits all approach doesn’t always work as we all think it will,” said Senate Majority Leader Cristina Castro, D-Elgin. * WAND | Bill increasing fine for drivers ignoring school bus safety arms awaits Pritzker’s signature: This plan would create a uniform $300 fine for the first offense and $1,000 for a second or subsequent violation. “It’s not a mandate,” said Sen. Mike Porfirio (D-Burbank). “Instead, it empowers local law enforcement with options and greater local control so they can choose what’s best for their community to curb dangerous driving behavior.” * Crain’s | Pritzker wants legislators to take up data centers in the fall: Opponents have questioned whether Pritzker has the authority to administratively suspend or slow the applications for the incentives under a program that dates back to 2019. “We’re going to address the issue, I hope, in the veto session,” Pritzker said at a press conference today. “We have authority to decide what process we’re going to use in order to go through those tax credits. * WTTW | Data Center Policy Debate in Illinois Spans Environmental, Economic Goals: “The data center industry has been around for decades,” said Brad Tietz, state policy director of the Data Center Coalition. “We’re going to use twice the amount of data in the next five years that we used in the past 10 years… and it’s not just entertainment. It’s hospital records, bank records, government, schools, public safety, remote work, telehealth, the list goes on.” In 2018, data centers accounted for 1.9% of all electricity consumption in the U.S. according to a 2024 report from Lawrence Berkeley National Labs. By 2023, that jumped to 4.4% of all electricity in the country. And the trend is not slowing down, with estimates for 2028 ranging from 6.7-12%. * NBC Chicago | Mayor of suburban Robbins keeps an open mind to data center: “I know there is a lot of negative stories out there but my job as mayor is to be innovative,” Bryant said. “Water, electricity, noise, pollution and environmental all are concerns of mine too, but we are in the discovery phase. If we cannot solve those issues, it will never enter Robbins. We are in talks with the owner to explore.” The owner of the property told NBC 5 at least five brokers have approached him about data centers at the site. His asking price is $25 to $30 million, with a credit for demolition. * Naperville Sun | Developer behind rejected Naperville data center exploring former BP site: According to an internal city memo obtained by the Naperville Sun, Karis is considering the purchase of the 168-acre INEOS property, formerly the BP campus, on which to build a data center and an advanced manufacturing hub at 150 W. Warrenville Road. If plans were to move forward, the proposed data center would be the same size as the one previously proposed for the Nokia property at 1960 Lucent Lane off the I-88 corridor, the memo said. In addition to data centers, Karis is known for building cold storage facilities, industrial buildings and advanced manufacturing facilities. * Capitol City Now | Data center-related repeal; public still skeptical of Springfield council: People who have been showing up at city council meetings these days say Springfield is not doing enough to protect itself from data centers, and the city council’s repeal of a CWLP rate classification for such projects is not doing much to quell speculation that a data center is indeed poised to come into the city. In fact, some commenters wonder if city leaders are actually okay with hosting a data center. * Rockford Register Star | Committee backs Rockford tax district that could include data center: Residents who filled the audience and brought signs opposing a data center, worry a data center could drive up electricity costs, consume too much water and potentially harm the environment. They also cited concerns with industrial development near residential, agricultural and forest preserve areas. “With the comments received during the public hearing, the ordinances approving the South Rockford TIF District state that TIF Funds, public subsidies and tax increment revenue available through South Rockford TIF District is prohibited to be used to incentivize data centers,” according to a memorandum to Rockford City Council. * WGLT | Consultant from Normal wants to diversify the data center discussion in McLean County: Meece said he would like to see a data center locate in the area — but not unless the public approves of such a project. “I would do my best to protect our residents and the people working here, but the one thing I will not do is go against what the general consensus is of the people in McLean County,” he said. “I don’t want to be a part of that; I don’t want to be a part of putting something in our town that people don’t want.” * Politico | A new tax in Data Center Alley: Virginia lawmakers today voted to tax data centers for the electricity they use, capped at $600 million per year. Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger is expected to approve the eleventh-hour agreement — which breaks a monthslong budget stalemate and allows the state’s Democratic trifecta to avoid what would have been Virginia’s first government shutdown. * Tribune | ‘Should I have done this?’: Dozens of candidates fight to stay on Chicago’s school board ballot: In this November’s race, nine board members appointed by Johnson, a close ally of the Chicago Teachers Union, are running to keep their seats, and all are facing objections, along with two members elected with CTU backing. During the 2024 school board elections, 27 of 47 prospective candidates faced objections, many of them from CTU, and more than a dozen were ultimately knocked off the ballot. But in a reversal from the last election cycle, the Urban Center, a pro-school-choice lobbying group, is behind at least 14 of the objections. * WTTW | Chicago’s Sidewalks Aren’t Accessible for People With Mobility Challenges, Lawsuit Argues. The City Wants the Case Dismissed: Last fall, the firm that successfully took on Chicago’s inaccessible crosswalks brought another lawsuit against the city — this time, arguing that it has long failed to properly build and maintain sidewalks, curb ramps and other key pedestrian infrastructure that people with mobility disabilities must navigate, as well as to provide accessible alternate routes when construction blocks rights of way. It’s not the first time Chicago has faced claims like this. In 2005, the city was hit with a federal class action over its failure to build curb ramps. Chicago settled the case in 2007 by pledging to spend $50 million — the largest-ever settlement in an ADA suit at the time. * ABC Chicago | Chicago homeowners dispute massive water bills, seek answers from city: The ABC7 I-Team is hearing from more Chicago residents who say they are being overcharged on city water bills, including one homeowner facing a bill of more than $235,000 at a vacant property that she says does not have running water. Back of the Yards resident Diane Carli said the bill has caused significant stress and has left her concerned about potential consequences, including wage garnishment or a property lien if it is not paid. * Sun-Times | Sam Antonacci delivers walk-off winner as Sox open series vs. Guardians with thrilling win: Replays, for those reviewing them in the umpires’ TV replay booth, did not provide sufficient evidence that the call on the field was wrong. That’s how close it was. “Sometimes,” said a man in the elevator who looked like Jerry Reinsdorf, the Sox owner who officially doesn’t speak to the media, “you just have to be lucky.” * Daily Herald | Vanishing act: Schaumburg neighborhood meets its demise: A 55-year-old neighborhood along Schaumburg’s southwest border is vanishing from the landscape this week as crews tear down longstanding homes to make way for an industrial development. All 19 houses lining Long Avenue are expected to be down by the end of next week, said Laura Stark, construction manager for Chicago-based Logistics Property Company LLC. The firm purchased the homes with plans to replace them with two industrial buildings totaling 436,500 square feet this summer, said Ben Fish, vice president of its Midwest region. * Daily Herald | As investigation into Mundelein woman’s fatal shooting continues, mayor and critics have their say: Using words like “murder,” “coward” and “shame,” supporters of the family of a Mundelein woman who was fatally shot by police last month during an apparent mental health crisis expressed their anger during Monday’s village board meeting. The people who talked about the late Mary Alice Love’s life and death for about 90 minutes included relatives and friends who knew the 37-year-old woman well — and strangers deeply troubled by how she died. * Pioneer Press | Lake Bluff, Lake Forest officials preparing for new state laws for e-bikes, scooters, etc.: Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke said he supports the measure. “It’s much clearer to follow the way they classified everything,” he said. Burke said he is working with the city’s communications team on a social media campaign to inform residents about the upcoming state regulations. In October 2023, the Lake Forest City Council approved an ordinance requiring riders of electronic mobility devices to walk them through the central business district. Violators can face penalties, including fines. * Aurora Beacon-News | New Hollywood Casino Aurora ready to open to the public Wednesday: Work on the property has been finishing up in the past few weeks. But, after years of work, the finish line appears near for those involved in bringing the casino to its new home in Aurora. The new casino— a $360 million project that’s been under construction since 2023 — is replacing the longtime riverboat Hollywood Casino in downtown Aurora, which turned off its lights on June 10 after operating there since the 1990s. * Daily Herald | Bloomingdale Yard construction ushers in transformation of Stratford Square to ‘The Grove’: Search Stratford Square on YouTube, and you’ll see videos of what was a “dead mall” or the “most depressing mall in America,” each with tens of thousands of views. Bloomingdale leaders intervened, acquiring the old department stores and finally the core of the mall itself. Looking to make a fresh start, the village had the entire mall demolished, save for the last anchor retailer, Kohl’s. […] Now, there are signs, not of a “dying mall,” but of new life: Vertical construction has begun on the massive property, one of the first major steps toward the larger redevelopment of the area into “The Grove at Bloomingdale.” The owner of the Naperville Yard is bringing a similar, roughly 100,000-square-foot indoor sports and family recreation hub to the former mall site. * WAND | ADM to invest $103 million in improvements to Decatur facilities: According to the Office of the Governor, ADM’s investment will create 50 new full-time jobs and keep over 1,000 present full-time jobs. “We’ll be investing to replace 40,000 control systems across the corn plant, the East Plant and the West Plant with state-of-the-art technology. When we think about protecting what matters and supporting safety, quality and efficiency, this is a hugely important project for us,” said ADM President for North America Christopher Cuddy. * WAND | Meridian Elementary won’t open in August due to heavy storm damage: Extreme winds seriously damaged the building and ripped off part of the roof, while rain then left water damage in several classrooms. “Every single major system in the building has been affected by water. From the ground, you couldn’t really see the extent of the wind damage that had occurred, but when you got inside and saw how much water actually was inside the building. Almost the entire rubber membrane that keeps water out had been blown off,” said Meridian School District Superintendent Shane Gordon. * WCIA | Pritzker joins opening of new soybean processing plant in Gilman: The new plant is home to the single largest extraction process in the country, processing up to 300,000 bushels a day and providing a stable market for more than 7,000 local family farms. The facility will also create 40 new full-time jobs. […] In addition to the soybean crushing plant, the company also has a 50-acre solar array with the capacity to generate enough energy to provide power directly to the plant or to feed to the grid. * WCIA | Attorneys for EMS worker accused of murder to file new motions; partner to be sentenced for involuntary manslaughter: The case against the two Springfield EMS workers accused of playing a part in the death of Earl Moore Jr. continues as they appear in court this week — with one of them set to be sentenced. Peggy Finley was in court on Monday for a planned trial call hearing, which is a hearing to assess whether the parties are ready to proceed to trial. The hearing didn’t last long; Finely’s attorneys said they are not ready and that they intend to file new motions in the case after Tuesday. * WCIA | New Asian American Heritage Trail showcasing cultural sites in Champaign-Urbana: The Asian American Heritage Trail in Champaign and Urbana will highlight places that showcase Asian influence in the twin cities. Signs will be in place soon to guide people along the trail, which will include the Refugee Center, the Hindu Temple and the Far East and Ginza grocery stores. Archivist Sarah Bennett with the Urbana Free Library worked on the project. She said it is important for people to know more about the Asian culture that is right in their backyard. * AP | Senate passes a bipartisan housing bill aimed at increasing supply and lowering prices: The bill, which passed 85-5 and now heads to the House, has been the focus of intense negotiations in recent weeks as lawmakers in both parties try to address housing costs in an election year. The final version of the legislation bans corporate investors from buying single-family homes but doesn’t include a Senate provision that would have required investors to sell newly constructed homes within seven years. * MediaIte | Trump Says He’s ‘Preparing Lawsuits Against ABC for False Reporting’: On Monday night, the president went on Truth Social and wrote that a lawsuit is headed ABC’s way. He accused ABC News of not reporting that his two predecessors spent $100 million to renovate the pool, a figure which he appears to have made up, as President Joe Biden oversaw no major work on it. Meanwhile, the Obama administration spent $35 million on the pool. * NYT | Major Supreme Court Decisions Testing Trump’s Policies Remain: Before the justices take their annual summer break, they will resolve a series of high-profile cases testing the administration’s policies to expand presidential power and reshape the federal bureaucracy. Significant decisions still to come will determine whether Mr. Trump can end the longstanding guarantee of birthright citizenship for the U.S.-born babies of undocumented immigrants and fire Lisa D. Cook, a leader at the influential and independent Federal Reserve.
|
|
Good morning!
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Poetry from The Boss… You can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain How’s life?
|
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
Comments Off |
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
Comments Off |
|
Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
|
|
Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Sun-Times…
* Press release | IDCCA President March Guethle unanimously re-elected to lead statewide Democratic County Chairs: Under Guethle’s leadership, IDCCA has expanded its support for county parties across Illinois by providing training, resources, and strategic assistance to local Democratic organizations working year-round to elect Democrats and engage voters in their communities. “It means a lot. More than I can say,” President Mark Guethle said following his re-election. “Our Chairs do such incredible work for very little recognition every day, and I’ve tried my best to highlight those efforts and support them however I can. Being elected again feels like our Chairs saying they’ve felt the support I’ve tried to give, and that’s what really matters to me.” * Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker continues Illinois Prisoner Review Board restructuring following controversial rulings: The new members of the 15-member board, now occupied with only 13 members, bring backgrounds in anti-domestic violence advocacy, probation, law enforcement and the clergy. Their appointments by Pritzker, confirmed by the Democratic-controlled Illinois Senate earlier this month, come as the governor seeks a rare third term and as he has faced scrutiny over the board and its decisions. The panel’s recent history is difficult to separate from its present. In March 2024, the board granted early release to Crosetti Brand, a man with a documented history of violence against women. Authorities say he later attacked a pregnant former girlfriend and killed her 11-year-old son, Jayden Perkins, when the boy tried to come to his mother’s aid. Brand, now 40, was sentenced to life in prison. Jayden’s family has filed a lawsuit against the board alleging negligence. * Tech Radar | Illinois smart glasses driving ban is yet another blow for the technology: Once Governor JB Pritzker approves the bill, people caught flouting the rules could face fines of $75 (or $150 for repeat offenses) and the possibility of misdemeanor or felony charges if involved in a serious crash while wearing smart glasses. Other states, such as New York, have proposed bills limiting smart glasses use while driving, but so far none have progressed as far as Illinois’ has — though that could soon change if states decide to take Illinois’ lead. * Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker vetoes spending items accidentally included in Illinois budget, including $500B typo: Things get missed in the middle of the night, especially when it is in a 3,700-page document. The Senate approved the spending plan shortly after 3 a.m. on June 1, with the House following about an hour later. Despite three amendments to House Bill 111, the spending plan, quite a few errors made it to the governor’s desk. The biggest error can be found on page 430 of the bill, where $500,250,000,000 was allocated to the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP for operating expenses in a grant from the Department of Human Services. But that typo didn’t appear until the third and final amendment was filed some time after midnight on June 1. * Sun-Times | Local leaders, advocates call for creation of Department of Gun Violence Reduction: The proposed Department of Gun Violence Reduction would replace the mayor’s Office of Community Safety and coordinate city efforts to respond to gun violence. Proponents say its $100 million budget would be made up of existing city public safety money. * Tribune | Dates set for the start of Chicago Bears training camp and joint practices with 2 teams: * Sun-Times | West Suburban Medical Center could lose power next month because of unpaid electric bill: West Suburban Medical Center might have its power shut off next month because the owner is behind on electric bill payments. ComEd posted a notice on the Oak Park hospital’s doors earlier this month, warning that the power will be turned off on July 8 if the owner doesn’t catch up on payments. The issue came up Monday during a hearing in Cook County court in the ongoing legal battle between its two owners. * Daily Herald | Drought over, but homeowners should still keep an eye on water needs for vulnerable plants, trees: According to National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Doom, Wednesday’s rainfall ranged from a bit more than a half-inch in the northern suburbs to 1.5 to 2 inches south of I-80. Johnson was surprised to hear the federal government thought the suburbs were in a drought, instead describing things as “more of a bit dry.” * Crain’s | Daily Herald sale to Tribune Publishing is complete: In the memo, Paddock Publications CEO Doug Ray said participants in the company’s employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, voted “by a substantial margin” in favor of the sale. Ray said the transaction closed today after the ESOP trustee determined the deal was in participants’ best financial interest following a due diligence review. […] Ray did not disclose financial terms of the deal, but Crain’s reported in May that Alden had offered $24 million, based on a notice sent to shareholders. * Naperville Sun | Naperville commission says no to building 25 townhomes on 2.3 acres: A hearing Wednesday night for the conditional use requested by Naperville-based Kramer Homes to allow single-family attached homes to be built in an R2 zoning district lasted more than three hours. Nearby residents decried the Ostara plan as too large for the site and brought up worries about traffic congestion, safety for walk-to-school routes and increased crowding at Naper Elementary, among many other points of contention. Commissioners took the concerns to heart — especially those about traffic and pedestrian safety in an already car-crowded area — as they unanimously recommended the project be denied by the Naperville City Council. * Daily Southtown | Will County Board mulls creation of land bank to spur development: Speaker Joe VanDuyne, of Wilmington, said the land bank could serve as a useful tool for municipalities to address blighted properties and an incentive for those properties to be redeveloped and put back on the tax rolls. “I absolutely think it’s a great program,” VanDuyne said. He said he plans to set a committee of the whole meeting next month to discuss the proposal. Land banks have been successfully used by several counties throughout the state to help acquire distressed properties and turn them back into a productive use, said Doug Pryor, president and CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development. * WGN | World’s first Dairy Queen to be revived as Route 66 landmark in Joliet: The building has been home to a church, an insurance agency, a lawn mower shop and even a motorcycle dealership over the past 86 years. “Joliet’s distinction as the home of the world’s first Dairy Queen location, one of the most beloved brands in the world, is one of its greatest hidden historic gems,” said CEO of JAHM Greg Peerbolt. “It seems appropriate that International Dairy Queen (IDQ) also shares its story with another American icon—the original alignment of Route 66, one of the most recognizable roads in the world.” * Illinois Times | Muni president addresses controversy: It may not have been the full-throated apology critics wanted, but a top official from Springfield Municipal Opera says mistakes were made in the handling of sexual harassment complaints against a man ultimately banned from participation in the organization. Kevin Burke III, president of the Muni Board of Managers, told Illinois Times that the 76-year-old nonprofit is surveying cast members about their experiences, potentially revising the code of conduct and improving internal communication. * WMBD | Minonk flips switch on solar farm, powers thousands of homes: Built on a former coal mine, the 16,000-panel farm will generate more than 9.8 megawatts of renewable energy. That’s enough to power more than 7,000 homes a year. According to a fact sheet from Nexamp, there is no enrollment or cancelation fee for subscribers and people only pay for what they get from the solar farm. “Anyone can subscribe, regardless of the status of your roof or if you own or rent,” said Jessica Collingsworth, Nexamp’s central policy director. “So, this is a great opportunity to bring clean energy to community members by being subscribers of this project, as well as big companies like Rush Medical or the College of DuPage. * WCIA | First-of-its-kind lab at U of I aims to treat chronic diseases, develop new cellular therapies: The lab’s first focus will be on endocrine disorders. Already, the research team has developed a “first-in-the-world” process that could eliminate lifelong dependence on thyroid medication. The lab is home to “clean-room facility” which will serve as the university’s first Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) facility. Having this room ensures that regulations — like making sure the drugs has minimum requirements for the methods, facilities, and controls used in manufacturing, processing, and packing of a drug product — are followed. * 404 Media | ICE Appears to Be Buying Immigrants’ Tax Identifiers from a Data Broker: A $10 million procurement reviewed by 404 Media indicates ICE is buying records related to immigrants’ tax identifiers. “It looks for all the world like Trump is trying to skirt the law and a court order to fuel his mass-deportation campaign,” Senator Ron Wyden said. * NPR | The Justice Department is linking public safety money to immigration enforcement: “They are trying to take dollars that local agencies have been depending on for years and saying, ‘Oh, well, if you want these dollars, then you need to help us out with our immigration enforcement work,” says Tahir Duckett, executive director of the Center for Innovations in Community Safety at Georgetown Law. * Politico | ‘Blatantly unlawful’: Judge blocks DOJ subpoenas aimed at Tim Walz: “Initiating a criminal investigation in order to harass political opponents or to coerce them into taking official action — particularly official action that the federal government cannot directly require those political opponents to take — is a blatantly unlawful and unethical use the grand-jury process,” Schiltz wrote in a 29-page ruling dated June 17 but unsealed Monday. The George W. Bush-appointed chief judge said Trump’s repeated attacks and promises of “retribution” against Walz, a Democrat, and other Minnesota officials “establishes beyond reasonable dispute” that the grand jury subpoenas — issued at the height of ICE’s Operation Metro Surge — “were a part of a broader campaign to coerce state and local officials in Minnesota to assist the Trump administration in its enforcement of immigration laws.” * Democracy Docket | In blow to Trump, federal judge blocks DHS from using citizenship database to purge voters: The League of Women Voters led a coalition of voting and privacy advocates in challenging the changes to SAVE last year, suing DHS, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and other federal actors. While Sooknanan declined to issue a stay last November, she granted a summary judgment Monday, saying that the modification of the SAVE system violated the Social Security Act’s prohibition on disclosing social security numbers, various provisions of the 1974 Privacy Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
|
|
Caption contest!
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Last week…
Caption?
|
|
You can’t make a data centers deal if nobody is talking
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Capitol News Illinois on the lack of any legislative progress whatsoever this past spring about data center regulation…
* Related… * Tribune | Illinois AFL-CIO puts off endorsements in rebuke to Democrats over stalled labor priorities in Springfield: “This past state legislative session was especially concerning, as Springfield not only failed to advance key priorities, but the process by which legislation was considered fell short of what working people deserve,” he said. “These concerns span the full breadth of our movement, with public sector, private sector, manufacturing, and building trades all expressing dissatisfaction.” In an interview with the Tribune, Drea called the decision more of a pause on traditional post-session endorsements and political organizing in order to hold further discussions with Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic legislative leaders House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch of Hillside and Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park before deciding whether endorsements were warranted. * WaPo | Why most politicians are not calling for data center bans despite voters’ anger: Democrats are divided because some trade unions support the centers, which create construction jobs, and because the powerful industry behind them has poured millions into attacking political opponents. Republicans have largely supported the centers, spurred by President Donald Trump’s enthusiastic backing, and have only recently been raising concerns as they hear from their enraged base. The data centers’ footprint encompasses states that are midterm battlegrounds and will be crucial to determining which party controls the House and the Senate next year. Ohio is home to more than 200 data centers, the sixth-most of any state, according to data compiled by the industry group Data Center Map. Georgia, Virginia and Texas host even more of the centers. * Shaw Local | Illinois data center fight escalates as state regulation fails and communities push back: The lack of regulation currently at the state and federal level was a major point of contention at a May 26 meeting in Lockport, where residents spoke out vehemently against the possibility of using a specific parcel of city-owned land to build a data center. Mayor Steven Streit argued that if the city were approached about a data center project, the city could use its ownership of the property, known as the Star Innovation District, to impose its own restrictions on the development. Residents were skeptical, however, that local efforts would be successful without regulation at the state or federal level. * WGLT | State Sen. Koehler on the end-of-session crunch and push for data center, insurance industry regulation: “You shouldn’t be taking drinking water out of the [Mahomet] aquifer to run a data center, so I hope that will make a difference. Unfortunately, this is not done statewide, and there was a bill that was introduced, but it didn’t really go anywhere,” Koehler said. Koehler said the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District is allowed to sell gray water [waste water from sinks and washing machines] to allow more clean water to go towards residents. Koehler said the state can create laws surrounding electric and water consumption, but local governments still need to decide where to zone the data center to minimize the noise pollution. * Shaw Local | Bourbonnais trustees approve moratorium on data centers: “It doesn’t protect us outside our village boundaries. It’s just limited to the village boundaries,” said during a telephone interview Wednesday. The moratorium is a temporary fix that expires Jan. 31, 2027, according to the ordinance. Mayor Jeff Keast and Van Mill said last week the moratorium gives them time to protect the village from future data centers. * Shaw Local | Data center moratorium coming to Bourbonnais: “Those regulations are going to take some time, and what we’re proposing here is a moratorium on any applications, any sitings of data centers,” Van Mill said. Trustees are scheduled to vote on proposed legislation at Monday’s board meeting. The moratorium gives officials a year to create or amend current ordinances. “The moratorium is basically a full stop, everything.” Van Mill said after the meeting. * Daily Herald | ‘Taking this issue extremely seriously’: Lake County pursues data center moratorium: As that review and approval process can take time, the action is coupled with an “administrative deferral” of up to 120 days on data center applications to bridge the gap and make the pause immediate. Given the complexity and potential long-term implications of data centers, county staff says it needs time to evaluate and develop definitions, zoning classifications, performance standards and review procedures before data center proposals move ahead. * Illinois Times | Area data center updates: Plans for CyrusOne’s $500 million data center in Sangamon County are moving forward, with construction expected to begin this summer, after approval two months ago in a County Board vote that crossed party lines. Meanwhile, debate on the potential Meridian Technology Park data center – 10 times more expensive and two miles west of Taylorville – is just beginning in nearby Christian County. The Christian County Board expects to formally discuss the issue for the first time on June 16, with official votes on plans by North Carolina-based Eagle Rock Partners expected in the coming months. * WICS | CWLP requests change to large load rates amidst area data center speculation: Rogers says, “There’s no way we could provide power to a large center like that or to the 200 megawatts in excess today at that rate.” He continues, “If a data center is going to come in, we would have to have negotiations with them on how we’re going to serve them and what the costs are going to be.” * 25 News Now | “It won’t be a data center.” Owner of the old AMC theater in North Pekin and village president address data center speculation: Although a vote on rezoning the now-abandoned AMC theaters in North Pekin from retail to light industrial won’t be taken until Tuesday night, residents in the area are concerned that rezoning could open the possibility of a future data center. North Pekin leaders assured the public Monday night that won’t happen. Residents showed up in “NO Data Center” t-shirts to fill the room, where usually only a small gathering of residents attends. According to North Pekin residents, this was the first meeting they’d attended, and it was due to data center rumors. * Shaw Local | Lee County officials: No data center coming to 387-acre property near Nelson: Local residents’ negative reactions in recent weeks stemmed from a real-estate listing posted on the Lee County Industrial Development Association’s website – a listing that has since been removed – advertising a 387-acre property along Interstate 88 and U.S. 30 as being “prime data center development land.” Since then, a change.org petition has been gaining signatures from those against the possibility of a data center, a Dixon man was charged with threatening LCIDA’s executive director and county officials said it’s snowballed to the point where they’re receiving emails about it everyday. * WSJ | Democrats Unveil Flood of AI Proposals in Potential Challenge to Tech Giants: Sen. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) is proposing a bill that would ensure a human is involved when the Pentagon uses AI in weapons and protects against the technology’s use for domestic surveillance. The bill expands on existing Defense Department protocols. The proposal follows legislation that is similar in some ways to bills put forward recently by Sens. Mark Kelly (D., Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) and Elissa Slotkin (D., Mich.). Many of the bills were spurred by AI developer Anthropic’s recent spat with the Pentagon, which raised questions about the Defense Department’s guardrails for keeping a human involved when AI is used. The introduction of powerful models capable of carrying out cyberattacks, a backlash against data centers that power models and challenges for recent college graduates finding jobs have sparked the flurry of new bills, lawmakers said.
|
|
Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] For over 30 years, Marc Maslauski has helped men look and feel their best at Jim Herron Ltd. in Springfield. Known for quality menswear and exceptional personal service, Marc takes pride in creating a shopping experience that keeps customers coming back. Whether you’re searching for a tailored suit, sport coat, or everyday style upgrade, Jim Herron Ltd. delivers timeless fashion with a personal touch. Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Marc in Springfield who serve their communities with dedication and pride. Please visit https://WeAreRetail.IRMA.org/.
Comments Off |
|
Sen. Linda Holmes will withdraw from ballot, retire at end of term
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sen. Linda Holmes…
|
|
Pritzker might want to take his own advice
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * My most recent newspaper column from two Sundays ago…
Discuss.
|
|
Isabel’s morning briefing
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Charges dropped in ATF shooting case after video calls sworn complaint into question: ‘These are serious things’. Tribune…
- While the dismissal of the federal charges may be only temporary, it adds more fuel to the crisis surrounding the U.S. attorney’s office since the meltdown last month of the “Broadview Six” case that has led to calls for sanctions and for U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros to resign. - In making the unusual move to dismiss the Country Club Hills complaint, prosecutors in a court filing Wednesday made repeated vague references to the “Front Office,” including how the front office became aware of new video of the incident and what actions were taken once they were disclosed. * Related stories… * At 11 am, Gov. JB Pritzker will attend the Incobrasa ribbon-cutting ceremony in Gilman. At 2:15 pp, he will travel to Decatur for ADM’s facility modernization announcement. Click here to watch. * Tribune | Illinois hospitals owe the state more than $700M, sparking questions and calls for change: Across Illinois, 19 hospitals — mostly safety net hospitals like West Suburban and Weiss — owed the state nearly $705 million in taxes, penalties and advance payments, as of earlier this year, according to information obtained from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services through Freedom of Information Act requests. […] The money safety net hospitals owe Illinois falls mainly into two categories: unpaid hospital assessments, also known as provider taxes, and advance payments. […] Of the $705 million hospitals owed the state, about $478 million of that was from unpaid hospital assessments and related penalties, as of March. * WAND | 2 dead, 5 hospitalized from severe weather in Jefferson County: The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said three homes were destroyed after a tornado reportedly touched down in the northeastern part of Jefferson County. Many others were damaged. News partner KFVS confirmed with Sheriff Jeff Bullard that two people died in the destroyed homes. One person died five miles southeast of Dix, Illinois. The second victim died near North July Road in Mount Vernon, Illinois. * Daily Herald | ‘Not a record we want to break’: Illinois on track for most twisters ever in 2026: Recent twister activity in the suburbs contributed to the 140 confirmed tornadoes so far in 2026, Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford said. […] “Illinois is absolutely outracing everybody,” AccuWeather meteorologist Peyton Simmers said, adding the next closest state is Mississippi with 82 preliminary tornado reports. * Tribune | Illinois drivers could face higher tolls next year: The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority on Thursday proposed its first passenger toll hike since 2012. The proposal, which would increase passenger vehicle tolls by roughly 45 cents for I-Pass users, comes on the heels of the state’s landmark public transit funding bill, which called for the same toll increases. Commercial vehicle tolls would increase by 30% for I-Pass users. The transit funding bill, which took effect June 1, diverts some funds that would typically be used for road projects to public transit, which the proposed toll hikes are intended to offset. * Tribune | In Illinois, getting oil and gas operators to pay for abandoned wells can take decades: All total, the state’s most recent list has nearly 3,900 abandoned or “orphan” wells, so-named because their owners are dead or unidentified, their companies bankrupted by a notoriously volatile global industry punctuated with booms or busts. The agency calculates the cost to plug them is around $155 million. An ongoing Tribune investigation has revealed that years of mismanaged fees and inadequate recordkeeping have hobbled the state’s efforts to reduce that number, while companies have been able to evade their legal obligations to plug nonproducing wells, exposing downstate communities to a host of contaminants, above and below ground. * WGN | The Workers’ Mic talk about why the IL AFL-CIO chose not to endorse a candidate: On this week’s Father’s Day show on The Workers’ Mic, Powered by the NCL, Ed Maher is joined by special guest hosts Rob Paszta, Associate General Counsel for Operating Engineers Local 150 and Ed’s daughter Emma. To kick off the show, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, Tim Drea joins the conversation to discuss why the Illinois AFL-CIO chose not to endorse a candidate for the fall election. Throughout the show, the guys discuss the latest union related news surrounding Uber for teens, the misinformation surrounding data centers, updates with the NLRB and more. * Daily Herald | Relief for older drivers arrives July 1 as state raises age mandate for road tests: There are about 350,000 Illinois drivers aged between 79 and 86, and approximately 55,000 of them take an annual driving test, officials said. Another significant provision lets immediate relatives of unsafe drivers, regardless of age, report problems to the secretary of state’s office. Issues could be a decline in driving skills or cognitive or medical issues. * KFVS | Republican Party’s 59th Legislative District Committee selects Paul Jacobs to fill Ill. State Senate vacancy: The Republican Party’s 59th Legislative District Committee has selected Paul Jacobs to fill the vacancy in the Illinois State Senate following the resignation of former State Sen. Dale Fowler. Committee members met Wednesday evening, June 17, at the Herrin Civic Center and voted to appoint State Representative Jacobs to serve the remainder of Fowler’s term in the 104th Illinois General Assembly. * Muddy River News | Illinois Republican Darren Bailey sees path to secure Governor’s office in Springfield: Bailey says it means that voters have to show up at the polls. Adams County GOP Chair Jon McCoy has raised a similar concern. “The republican party is notorious for slacking off on voting,” McCoy said. “If they would turn out and vote, we would turn this state back red. Predominantly during non-presidential election years, so many republicans stay home.” * Tribune | New protections on the way for patients against sexual abuse, misconduct by healthcare workers: The bill creates an obligation for healthcare businesses and individual healthcare workers to promptly report to the state if they witness or hear about allegations of sexual or intimate conduct involving healthcare professionals and patients. The state would be able to discipline licensed workers ranging from doctors and nurses to dentists and massage therapists for failing to report such incidents. The bill also expands on previous reporting requirements for hospitals and allows the state to fine them for failing to properly report incidents where healthcare workers engaged in sexual or intimate conduct with patients. That money would go into the Sexual Assault Services and Prevention Fund. “Reckless failure to report” such incidents would also put healthcare organizations’ certificate to operate in jeopardy. * WHBF | Illinois bill expands school bullying to include AI content: House Bill 3851 updates and expands how bullying and cyberbullying are defined, particularly to include the use of artificial intelligence. Lawmakers say the update reflects growing incidents nationally of inappropriate AI-generated content. The move gives school districts clearer authority to step in when those situations interfere with a student’s well being or education. * CBS Chicago | Video: State, local leaders remember trailblazing Illinois lawmaker Barbara Flynn Currie: Currie was first elected to the state house in 1978. She held her seat for 40 years, becoming the longest serving woman in state history and THE first woman to serve as house majority leader. * Block Club | Street Vendor Ticketed By Police, Then Detained By ICE: ‘We Don’t Know Who We Can Trust’: Perdomo made her first court appearance Tuesday. As she and her nephew, Fabian Cocha Toapanta, were leaving a courthouse on the West Side, federal immigration officials arrested them. Another vendor witnessed the arrest, Gama said. Perdomo is in a detention facility in Kentucky while Cocha Toapanta is in a facility in Indiana, records show. The two are from Ecuador, Gama said. Perdomo has been selling fruit in Millennium Park for about three years, he said. * CBS Chicago | Lawsuit filed against Illinois DCFS over teen sex abuse at Aunt Martha’s foster care facility: On Thursday, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was added as a defendant in a lawsuit accusing the foster facility of failing to protect a 17-year-old foster child from sexual assault by an Aunt Martha’s employee. In March, a Cook County jury convicted former Aunt Martha’s youth center manager Trulon Henry of sexually assaulting that teen. There were also allegations involving five other girls, as young as 12. A lawsuit filed earlier this month claims those sexual assaults and other abuse allegations at the state-funded foster care center went unchecked by DCFS for years. * WTTW | Chicago Has Spent at Least $225M to Resolve Police Misconduct Lawsuits, Just 6 Months Into the Year: The city’s 2026 budget set aside just $82.5 million for police misconduct settlements, and authorized officials to borrow an additional $283.3 million to cover the soaring cost of lawsuits alleging wrongdoing by police officers, records show. Mayor Brandon Johnson said Tuesday that the city had an obligation to compensate those who had suffered because police officers had committed a “violation of trust and abuse of power.” * Crain’s | Midway Airport starts to claw its way back: Total passengers at the South Side airport increased nearly 1% through the first three months of 2026 from a year ago, according to the most recent data from the Chicago Department of Aviation. During the same period in 2025, passenger volume at Midway fell 12%. “The slump appears to be over at Midway,” says Joe Schwieterman, a DePaul University professor who studies the transportation industry. * Tribune | Amid Chicago budget crunch, more schools lean on dollars they raise independently: In recent years, the principal has rented out the South Side high school’s campus to churches, nonprofits and sports leagues, and leaned on a new parent group to drum up donations. The effort to supplement what the school receives directly from Chicago Public Schools has paid off. Kenwood spent $418,983 in outside money in fiscal year 2025, compared with a low of about $90,000 in 2021, according to an analysis by Chalkbeat and the Tribune. * Block Club | Crackdown On Airbag Resellers Passes Council As Thefts Surge: Introduced this spring by Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), the ordinance is an attempt to deter thieves by stifling the black market around stolen airbags by raising fines on resellers caught with them. […] A recent analysis of Police Department data by the Sun-Times found there were about 1,200 airbag thefts reported from January through April, compared to about 70 total from 2023-2025, with police suspending many investigations due to lack of evidence. * Sun-Times | Chicago’s Black cowboys celebrate Juneteenth with South Side horseback ride: “I made a commitment that I wanted to bring horseback riding back to the inner city of Chicago, and that’s what I feel like I’ve done,” said Murdock, founder of the Broken Arrow Horseback Riding Club. * Sun-Times | Will Venable shares how he’s progressing as manager while White Sox develop into contender: “I’m happy about where this whole thing’s at,” Venable said Sunday in the visiting manager’s office at Comerica Park. “And I’m OK with whatever the result is, as long as we continue this process of coming to the ballpark with a good attitude, giving everything that we have, bringing a ton of energy, learning from our mistakes and the experiences in the game and doing the same thing the next day. That, for me, is what this is all about. I believe that has happened every day this year.” * Tribune | Cook County deficit projected at $550 million: Her financial team blamed fallout from a costly lawsuit the county lost over its infrastructure spending, growing payroll and benefit costs awarded in previous years and federal cuts to healthcare coverage. “This is going to be a really tough budget year, but we begin it from a position of strength,” Preckwinkle told reporters Wednesday. “Over the last 15 years, we’ve balanced our budgets, strengthened reserves, improved our bond ratings … and we’ve made some real progress on our pension funding. But even strong internal fiscal management can’t shield us from external events — court decisions, federal policy changes and rising costs across the economy.” * Aurora Beacon-News | Oswego board OKs issuing up to $27.2 million in bonds for work connected to bringing in Lake Michigan water: The planning process between the three municipalities began in 2014. The three communities have been on notice from the Illinois State Water Survey that the region’s aquifer is at “severe risk” of depletion, village officials have said, driving the push to find a new water supply. “General obligation bonds are a piece of the overall funding strategy for the village’s connection to Lake Michigan as a water source. Debt service payments will come from water and sewer fund revenues,” Oswego Finance Director Andrea Lamberg said in a report to Oswego Village Board members. * Daily Herald | Group holds anti-ICE protest at Hoffman Estates police station: Protesters criticized police for not resisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in the village since last fall. The demonstration focused on a video showing ICE agents arresting a young woman Oct. 10. Cristobal Cavazos, executive director of Immigrant Solidarity DuPage, mentioned concerns about the agents’ presence at the police station and the absence of signs against ICE using public property. “We’ve seen ICE in Hoffman Estates about 40 times,” he said. “We’re convinced there’s still a problem in Hoffman Estates. We just want to keep track of the humanity of that police department.” * Aurora Beacon-News | Kane County will no longer get elm tree donation meant for celebration of America’s 250th, board chair says: Last week, at a Kane County Board committee meeting, board chair Corinne Pierog informed the board that the local Daughters of the American Revolution has rescinded its offer to donate an elm tree to Kane County, which the county was planning to make part of a “Declaration Square” behind the courthouse site in Geneva in honor of America’s 250th. […] Since then, however, the project has generated some concern among board members in relation to its planned location and potential cost. * Daily Herald | After uncertain times, Tool Library of Lake County thrives at 5: The library offers about 2,300 tools to borrow at no charge, though it is supported in part by 705 dues-paying members. In May, 94 patrons checked out 494 tools from the facility. “And (June) will be a busier month,” said Van Miller, a Mundelein resident and retired physical education teacher who, after seeing a similar operation in Portland, Oregon, championed what became the first-of-its-kind tool library in Lake County. * WGEM | Denman teachers accused of spanking, taping kids’ mouths agree to teaching license suspension: The two teachers who were accused of giving Denman Elementary students birthday spankings and putting tape on their mouths have had their teaching licenses suspended. According to Shelley Arns, Quincy Public Schools were notified by the Illinois State Board of Education regarding the Agreements for Licensure Sanctions of Kim Kirby and Jennifer Oitker. In the agreements, Kirby and Oitker denied the ISBE allegation but agreed to have their teaching license suspended for 60 calendar days ‘in order to resolve the matter without further administrative action.’ The suspension began on Thursday, June 18. * WGLT | Chiddix teacher agrees to delay detention hearing as he awaits trial on felony grooming, solicitation charges: Bloomington Police arrested Miller on Wednesday during a traffic stop. A McLean County grand jury returned indictments against Miller earlier in the day. Police began investigating in February after a victim reported Miller has exchanged with them photos that were sexual in nature and when the victim was still a minor. * WGEM | Record-breaking storm season causing delays for local farmers: While the rain has proven to be a nuisance for Schmidt and other farmers, he is more more worried about the record-breaking increase in tornadic activity throughout Illinois. As of June 19, 143 tornadoes have touched down in the state, breaking the previous record of 142 set in 2024. “It’s definitely concerning. I mean… it’d be devastating to have a tornado here and take out all the sheds and, you know, everything you’ve built your entire life for,” Schmidt said. * WGLT | Town of Normal expects residential BESS to grow along with industrial systems: There has been one permit pulled for the installation of a [Battery Energy Storage Systems], at Rivian. It encompasses less than an acre, according to the town planning and zoning department, and would not be visible from a public street. A couple other inquiries have come in. “We have been asked about one larger BESS within our extraterritorial jurisdiction, which would have served the grid [not a specific use], and we have been asked about a small BESS [0.25 acres] that would also support the grid. Neither are official,” said Mercy Davison, director of planning and zoning. * PJ Star | Peoria Riverfront Museum explains participation in Freedom 250 events: Riverfront Museum CEO John Morris emphasized to the Journal Star that the museum’s representation of Illinois in the event, which Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and other Democratic governors backed out of, is in no way an endorsement of any political party over another. “We are a nonpartisan organization. We are not interested in any of the partisan activities or partisanship of what’s going on,” Morris said. “We are interested in proudly representing the greatest state in the Union — Illinois — and doing so in the same values and same multi-disciplinary mission that the museum as a nonpartisan enterprise has had since day one and will continue to have.” * WAND | Visually impaired fans experience America’s pastime at Robin Roberts Stadium: Personal vision coach Ann Schonhoff, who has impairments herself, said audio description technology makes events like these possible. “Normally, when we come to a baseball game we’re just sitting as spectators, but here we can really get involved a little more because we have audio description that’s telling us what’s going on,” Schonhoff said. * BBC | Young women now have ‘close to zero’ risk of cervical cancer death after HPV jab: The first study of its kind shows deaths have fallen sharply since school-age girls began being offered it in 2008, and around 200 lives have been saved in England so far thanks to the vaccine. Between 2020 and 2024, no cervical cancer deaths were recorded in women aged 20 to 24 - the first time that had happened over a five-year period. Without vaccination, around 23 deaths would have been expected. * Tribune | Microplastics linger inside people and animals, multiple studies show. But regulation is still far off: Out of more than 300 patients who had their neck arteries scoured, Italian researchers reported, those with higher levels of plastics-laden plaque were more likely to suffer strokes, heart attacks or sudden death during the next three years. The 2024 study, published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, is among a growing amount of human and animal research suggesting plastics pose health hazards that only now are coming into focus. * Crain’s | Real estate data firm CoStar, major brokerages accused of rent-fixing: A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that real estate information company CoStar Group and five major brokerages are conspiring to fix commercial rent prices. The complaint, filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, argues that competing commercial real estate brokers and landlords are participating in a “hub-and-spoke” conspiracy facilitated by CoStar that allows them to exchange confidential data on lease terms, driving up rents. The brokerages named in the suit are CBRE, Jones Lang LaSalle, Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers and Newmark, all CoStar clients.
|
|
Good morning!
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
|
|
Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, Jun 22, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
|
| « NEWER POSTS | PREVIOUS POSTS » |
