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Reader comments closed for the weekend
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Con Brio…
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Illinois Federation of Teachers president Dan Montgomery and Illinois Education Association president Al Lorens…
* Tribune…
* Tribune reporter Kori Rumore Finley has a fun thread on Friday the 13th…
* Capitol News Illinois | On witness stand, former AT&T lobbyist describes how Madigan ally got $22,500 contract: La Schiazza wrote that getting AT&T’s bill passed “should be simple.” “And if our consultants can’t sell that then we should find new ones..…this should be an easy lift,” his email said. “Just saying.” A few weeks later, when one of those same colleagues forwarded news to La Schiazza about the retirement of ComEd’s longtime top outside lobbyist, the AT&T boss wrote back that it was “huge news.” The lobbyist, Mike McClain, was well-known in Springfield to be close to powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan, and therefore more influential than most.
* Sun-Times | Facing defeat, Johnson pulls plug on Sigcho-Lopez as Zoning Committee chair: The Zoning Committee has been without a permanent chair for more than a year. It’s former chair, Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), was forced to resign after being accused of bullying and intimidating his colleagues in an attempt to block a City Council vote on a non-binding resolution that would have allowed Chicago voters to weigh in on whether or not Chicago should remain a sanctuary city. * Tribune | Mayor Johnson shifts course on Zoning chair, picks West Side moderate over progressive ally: The decision, confirmed by a top Johnson administration official Friday, marks a sharp change in course for Johnson, who for months had tried to put Southwest Side Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, into the important position overseeing development. Sigcho-Lopez’s appointment faced strong opposition from council opponents who argued he would be too politically radical and hostile to developers. In Burnett, 27th, a mentee of former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White who is the longest-serving alderman in the City Council and is currently Johnson’s vice mayor, aldermen said Friday they see a more acceptable pick. * Tribune | City to announce phase one of plan to combine homeless and migrant shelter systems: The event, held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 2822 W. Jackson Blvd., culminates months-long discussions between city and state officials and non-profit leaders about how to turn the two systems into a unified shelter structure, dubbed the “One System Initiative.” Homeless advocates have long championed the move, saying it will better serve unhoused Chicagoans and recently arrived asylum seekers with wrap-around services: employment, food, and health care. Some have pointed out, however, that providers helping asylum seekers may be new to housing and homelessness, which could pose challenges. * Block Club | Humboldt Park Tent Encampment Residents Will Get Housing By December, City Leaders Pledge: “In collaboration with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office, the Department of Family Support Services, and Chief Homelessness Officer Sendy Soto, we seek to house ALL tent encampment residents and help them move out of the park by December 2024,” Fuentes wrote in her newsletter. People in the park will be connected to 60 apartments later this month through Chicago Rents. The program is organized by All Chicago and aims to end homelessness by working with private property owners who volunteer their units to house people. The program launched in 2020 and has been expanding its reach to the Northwest, North and West sides within the last year as more landlords offer up their apartments, organizers said. * Sun-Times | Mixed immigration status families around Chicago hope Biden’s ‘parole in place’ plan survives legal challenge: A program announced this summer by President Biden would let undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens remain in the country while trying to adjust their immigration status. But a legal challenge halted the program until at least Sept. 23. * Sun-Times | ‘Three Senators’ mural celebrates Illinois’ Obama, Braun and Burris — all from the South Side: Installed in Mahalia’s Mile in Chatham, the mural by Mike Stidham features the state’s three Black U.S. senators and many other famous Chicagoans, landmarks and symbols, encouraging passersby to pause for a treasure hunt. * WBEZ | Welcome to the CTA bus ‘rodeo’: The history of the bus roadeo in Chicago goes back to the early 1980s. Since then, the annual event has grown to include competitions in mechanical, janitorial and other categories as part of a larger CTA transit “jamboree.” After going on hiatus starting in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the jamboree returned earlier this month. We attended the fete and spoke with competitors, fans and event organizers about the history of the competition and what it means to them. * The Athletic | Hawk Harrelson spent 3 decades calling the White Sox. Now he can’t stand to watch: “This team has no presence. After the pregame show is on, I basically watch part of the first inning to see if they get any presence. They don’t have a presence,” Harrelson told The Athletic in a phone interview this week, one of the few times he has spoken publicly this season. * The Triibe | Family seeking answers about death of Chicagoland truck driver Javion Magee: One family is seeking answers from authorities about their son, Javion Magee, a 21-year-old truck driver from the Chicagoland area who was found hanging from a tree in Henderson, North Carolina. […] The case is under investigation. * Naperville Sun | Naperville City Council to vote on $25.5 million settlement resolving federal civil rights lawsuit over wrongful conviction: With the six-page settlement, plaintiff Jeanne Olson — representing the estate of Amor, who died in 2023 — would agree to accept $25.5 million from the city “to resolve all allegations and claims,” the proposed agreement reads. To pay out the settlement, the city has $18 million in applicable insurance coverage, according to an agenda report for Tuesday’s meeting. The remaining $7.5 million would be accommodated as a one-time payment from the city’s self-insurance fund. The council is also scheduled to vote on a budget amendment Tuesday that would allow for the one-time payment. * Daily Southtown | Dolton firefighters secure contract, trustees put temporary halt to travel by officials: The labor pact was announced Thursday at a special Village Board meeting, where four trustees who have battled Mayor Tiffany Henyard were joined by a fifth trustee who has been a staunch ally of the mayor. Trustees voted to put a temporary freeze on travel by village elected officials to curb costs, and said they hope to have a new village budget hashed out in about a month, although they warned job cuts are a real possibility. * WCIA | Illinois State Police Trooper returns to duty after being shot during traffic stop: The ISP trooper who was shot and injured in October of 2023 is back at work, with full duty status, according to Illinois State Police. Trooper Dakota Chapman-Green is back working for Illinois State Police sinceCristobal Santana is accused of shooting Trooper Chapman-Green during a traffic stop in Springfield. * SJ-R | After two years of enrollment increases, here’s where UIS stands for 2024-25: Enrollment numbers at the University of Illinois Springfield held steady for the fall semester officials announced Wednesday, after the school had two years of increased numbers. A total of 4,628 students were enrolled at the 10-day count, compared to 4,661 students last year, a less than 1% dip, though the number of new first-year freshmen, first-time transfer students and online students all increased. * WCIA | ‘I feel like he’s still helping me’: Former Danville mayor’s $100,000 legacy: For more than 40 years, Bob Jones owned and operated the Dairy Queen on Main Street in Danville. Although the former mayor died seven months ago, his legacy continues to live on helping employees going from serving ice cream to sitting in classrooms at Danville Area Community College. “He would also talk to his employees about attending DACC and how they can come here and get financial help,” DACC Foundation Executive Director Tonya Hill said. * Smile Politely | Carle Illinois student team developing “space suit” to protect babies from radiation: Developed by primarily by CI Med student Annie Tigranyan, alongside fellow CI Med students Debora Nya and Madeline Minneci, and U of I chemical engineering student Katherine Park, the suit is meant to reduce the exposure in children in the NICU as some are subjected to dozens of x-ray screenings. Reducing the amount of radiation each baby receives is ultimately the goal, and the suit would be able to be worn in order to do just that. * NYT | Jon Bon Jovi Helps Woman Off Ledge of Bridge: In a video released by the police, Mr. Bon Jovi and another person, whom other news outlets have identified as a production assistant, slowly approach the woman, who is on the edge of the bridge, facing outward, on the far side of a railing. They are seen speaking to her for a minute or so, before she turns around to face them, and they lift her over the railing to safety. Mr. Bon Jovi then hugs the woman and the three walk together along the bridge, attended by law enforcement officials. The woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation, the police told CNN. * CNN | America’s stores are winning the war on shoplifting: At first, retailers underestimated how much merchandise they were losing. When they adjusted their metrics to compensate, they overestimated their original losses in some cases. Stores have also added ways to prevent theft, which may have been effective at reducing the problem, even if they frustrated shoppers. Companies locked up products and removed self-checkout stations. * ProPublica | The NYPD Is Tossing Out Hundreds of Misconduct Cases — Including Stop-and-Frisks — Without Even Looking at Them: In one instance, an officer punched a man in the groin, the oversight agency found. In another, an officer unjustifiably tackled a young man, and then another officer wrongly stopped and searched him, according to the CCRB. The incident involving the young man was one of dozens of stop-and-frisk complaints the NYPD dismissed without review this year — a significant development given that the department is still under federal monitoring that a court imposed more than a decade ago over the controversial tactic.
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‘Preliminary data’ released on Pretrial Fairness Act
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Amanda Vinicky at WTTW…
Those 77 counties do not include Cook and most of the collar counties. Click here and scroll down for the map.
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ADM leak a ‘wake-up call’ (Updated)
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * E&E News…
* From the violation notice…
* Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition…
* Protect The Mahomet Aquifer campaign…
…Adding… Sen. Chapin Rose…
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Today’s must-read
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Background is here if you need it. In These Times reporter Sarah Lazare spoke with people dependent on Belivdere’s Stellantis plant reopening…
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It’s just a bill
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WGLT…
* Tribune…
After passing the House 71-38 in 2023, HB1294 was referred to Senate Assignments and has not moved. * WGLT…
* Cooley…
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Open thread
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Happy Friday! What’s going on?
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: The latest in the La Schiazza trial… * Tribune | ‘Is there even a small contract for Eddie Acevedo?’: Jury sees emails from Madigan confidant asking AT&T to pay former state rep: “Eddie tended to go out in the evenings in Springfield after session and on occasion would have too much to drink,” testified Stephen Selcke, who worked for years as one of AT&T’s top internal lobbyists. “And when he drank too much, he could get belligerent and, to a degree, a little loose-lipped.” But it turned out Acevedo had something going for him that trumped even his more unpleasant attributes. He had Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan in his corner. * Sun-Times | No job at AT&T for ‘loose-lipped’ Madigan ally — until exec ‘got a call,’ jurors hear: The push came when the utility was trying to pass crucial legislation. Selcke said he believed the request came from a Springfield insider named Michael McClain. And Selcke explained to a jury Thursday why the contract for Acevedo was likely so important to La Schiazza. “My impression was that Mr. McClain was advancing a request to [La Schiazza] after a presumed discussion that he had had with Speaker [Michael] Madigan,” Selcke testified. If you want live updates from the trial, we’ve added a link to the live coverage post. * Tribune | Nostalgia and pride: The Chicago history of celebrating Mexican Independence Day by caravan: The event commemorated the cry of the Mexican people to rise against the Spaniards. It was the heart of the celebration for the growing population in Chicago and nearby cities. “It was a beautiful and heartfelt celebration even though there weren’t very many of us yet,” said Teresa Fraga, now the president of the Mexican Cultural Committee of Chicago. * WAND | Treasurer Frerichs introducing lower fees, mobile app for Bright Start 529 program: Illinois families participating in the Bright Start college savings program will soon have lower fees and easier access to their investments. Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced Thursday that he is preparing to launch a new mobile app to help people prepare for their future college students. The Bright Start 529 is already among one of the lowest-cost savings programs in the country. Although, Frerichs said he wants to make it even better. * WGEM | Illinois Treasurer announces changes to Bright Start College Savings Program: Frerichs said the change will lead to lower management fees and give people more investment options. Bright Start will also be launching a mobile app for people to track their savings. “We’re proud of the progress that Bright Start has made over the past nine years but we’re not finished,” Frerichs said. “I want Illinois families to have the absolute best 529 program in the country.” * WTTW | Illinois Child Care Advocates Say Higher Wages Needed to Overcome Staffing Shortage: The state has plans to invest in Smart Start compensation grants and the Illinois Department of Human Services has allocated federal COVID-19 funding, which officials say needs to be allocated by the end of this year and spent by the end of 2026. The lack of those federal dollars could add to the already growing crisis. * WTTW | Dirksen Courthouse Juror Kitchen, Public Cafeteria Tested Positive for High Legionella Levels; CDC Says Building Has Widespread Problem: WTTW News obtained information showing positive results for legionella bacteria across dozens of tests in 2023 and 2024. While many of those tests merely showed reportable levels of legionella, some found fixtures with potentially dangerous levels of the bacteria — including in a kitchen used by jurors and in the building’s cafeteria, which is open to the public. The fixture in the juror kitchen was found to be contaminated last year, while two cafeteria fixtures tested positive as recently as July. * Sun-Times | Mayoral aide who called cops ‘f—ing pigs’ now accused of antisemitism: Ald. Debra Silverstein, the City Council’s only Jewish member, said two days after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Kennedy Bartley tweeted, “From the river to the sea. Palestine will be free. Amen!” Four months later, Silverstein said, Bartley jeered her during Council debate on a Gaza cease-fire resolution. * Tribune | Aldermen call on Mayor Johnson aide to resign over social media post, police comment: Ald. Matt O’Shea, 19th, said Bartley’s X post will renew concerns over the judgment of Johnson’s leadership team, given that it came weeks before Israel’s full invasion of Gaza on Oct. 27. “This is disgusting that someone could comment on social media about such a vicious, brutal attack of innocent people,” O’Shea, Johnson’s handpicked chair of the Aviation Committee, said, questioning “how this administration could not have known about this from a high-ranking member on their own social media account less than a year ago. This individual is not suited for leadership in government.” * Fox Chicago | Dolton trustees meet without Mayor Henyard, address layoffs and budget issues: House also noted that the village must [Trustee Jason House] a new bank after Henyard allegedly refused to sign numerous checks totaling millions of dollars. House stepped in to sign them, but said Henyard disapproved. “The mayor’s office was disappointed in that they contacted our bank claiming false, false signatures on the bank account so the bank essentially said we are not playing this game we are tired of it and gave us a 60 day notice,” House said. * WGN | With Henyard absent, an ally and trustee joins village board to help tackle fiscal issues: In the wake of WGN Investigates extensive reporting on Henyard and her allies’ lavish travel on taxpayer dimes – the trustees voted to approve a moratorium on reimbursing the travel for elected officials and employees. “Taking these trips to all of these conferences and bringing back absolutely nothing means you’re just taking trips on the taxpayers dime,” said Kiana Belcher. * Tribune | Convicted ex-US Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. pushing for presidential pardon with help from suburban mayors: Jackson, who served about 17 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2013 to conspiring to defraud his campaign fund of roughly $750,000, has enlisted the help of south suburban mayors from his former congressional district and also put out a general call on his Facebook page for others to write letters of support to Biden. […] That was the same day NBC News reported nine south suburban mayors had sent a letter to the White House requesting Jackson be pardoned. Jackson shared the NBC story and a copy of the letter in one of his posts that day on Facebook. But neither Jackson, who served in Congress from 1995 until he resigned amid burgeoning controversies in 2012, nor the NBC story mentioned the letter was drafted with Jackson’s involvement and at his request. * Daily Herald | ‘A lot of people have an interest in it’: What could be Lake County’s single largest road project advances: Untangling congestion centered in the Hawthorn Woods/Lake Zurich area along Old McHenry Road has been considered for years. Doing that will involve a railroad underpass and related improvements for what could be the single largest road project ever undertaken by Lake County. * Action Network | IIlinois Gaming Board Renews Rivers Casino’s License: Rivers Casino, located in Des Plaines near O’Hare International Airport, is the top revenue generator among Illinois’ 15 casinos in operation, having reported $346.2 million in winnings through the first eight months of the year. That has resulted in $103.9 million in state and local tax revenue. * Rock River Current | Hard Rock’s August Numbers Illustrate High Interest In Casino’s Rockford Debut: The casino had 57,047 admissions in August, according to data released this week by the Illinois Gaming Board. The most monthly admissions Hard Rock has had since opening its interim casino nearly three years ago was 58,379 in March. Specific grand-opening weekend numbers haven’t been released. The data comes from the gaming board’s regular monthly reporting. * Daily Herald | Cook County leaders ponder future of programs begun with ARPA funds: Cook County received $1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds in 2021. After distributing $800 million of those ARPA funds to 73 community programs and spending nearly $200 million on county operations, county leaders are looking for input to determine which programs should continue and how to sustain them as originally funding dries up. Today is the last day for people to submit their thoughts to the Community Voices Survey about prioritizing potential future funding. * Daily Herald | Why Des Plaines might change ambulance rates: The city council may switch to a federally subsidized system that would increase the city’s revenue without increasing most customers’ costs. The program’s fee for a participating fire department is determined annually by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, based on a cost report that includes the department’s budget for ambulance service. The subsidized system’s current rate for Des Plaines would be about $2,647 for advanced life support service and about $2,756 for basic life support service, documents indicate. * ABC Chicago | Teacher allegedly calls Elgin middle school student racial slur; mother sues district: Amica Richardson said last year her then-11-year-old daughter was verbally abused by her math teacher who called her a racial slur. “She walked into the classroom, and the teacher immediately got into her face, and saying, ‘What should you be called? What should I address you as? The N word or Black?” Richardson told media on Thursday. * Tribune | FDA calls out AbbVie over ‘misleading’ commercial featuring Serena Williams: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking North Chicago-based drugmaker AbbVie to task, warning in a recent letter that a migraine medication commercial featuring Serena Williams is “misleading.” The television commercial shows Williams in a talk show dressing room, appearing to experience migraine pain, closing her eyes and holding a hand up to her head. She then starts walking and a logo for the AbbVie medication Ubrelvy appears in a backstage hallway. Williams’ face relaxes and she holds up a single dose packet of Ubrelvy. She then says: “With Ubrelvy, there’s another option. One dose works fast to eliminate migraine pain.” She’s then shown in the dressing room laughing and smiling. The problem, the FDA says, is that a dose of Ubrelvy has not been shown in clinical trials to work immediately or for all patients. * WICS | School district to discipline rumor spreaders disrupting Jacksonville Middle School: Jacksonville School District 117 Superintendent Steve Ptacek sent a letter to parents regarding rumors of threats at Jacksonville Middle School: […] Here are the facts. A student did make a statement today after school, in anger, to a group of students that they needed to back off because he has a gun. The police are involved. They did a threat assessment of the student. It was determined that he does not have weapons and doesn’t have access to weapons in the home. Regardless, this student will face serious disciplinary consequences for his statement and for the disruption he is causing. * WCIA | Springfield bridge to be renamed, decorated with mural to honor Sonya Massey: A bridge in Springfield may be dedicated to Sonya Massey, thanks to the support of the Springfield City Council. The pedestrian bridge over Clearlake Avenue and Jefferson Street has already been painted with a mural by Alex Wells, and now city leaders are working to add more murals on the bridge to remember her and officially designate the bridge as Massey Memorial Bridge. * WIFR | Rockford’s ‘Go Team’ launches at The Music Box: At Thursday night’s launch party at The Music Box in Rockford, dozens of the community’s movers and shakers learned what they could do to become a ‘first friend’ to people who just moved to the area and really make the newcomers feel at home. ‘Go Team’ members will lead tours of the Rockford area and become a resource to those committed to making the stateline their new permanent residence. * Washington Times | DHS designates Electoral College vote count as special national security event: The move comes in response to the 2021 count, which saw a mob storm the Capitol to try to head off the count that certified President Biden as the winner over former President Donald Trump. The vote counting joins other major events such as the national nominating conventions, presidential inaugurations and the president’s annual State of the Union address. * AP | Boeing factory workers go on strike after rejecting contract offer: The strike started at 12:01 a.m. PDT, less than three hours after the local branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers announced 94.6% of voting workers rejected the proposed contract and 96% approved the work stoppage, easily surpassing a two-thirds requirement. The labor action involves 33,000 Boeing machinists, most of them in Washington state, and is expected to shut down production of the company’s best-selling airline planes. The strike will not affect commercial flights but represents another setback for the aerospace giant, whose reputation and finances have been battered by manufacturing problems and multiple federal investigations this year. * Press release | AG Raoul calls for DOJ investigation into Texas raids targeting Latino candidates and campaign volunteers: In the letter, Raoul and the coalition argue the Texas attorney general’s office sought to intimidate voters of color by conducting raids and seizing the property of organizers and Latino candidates. Raoul and the coalition are calling on the DOJ to investigate the Texas raids to determine whether they constitute violations of civil rights, including the right to vote. There has never been evidence of widespread voter fraud anywhere in the United States, and by conducting the Aug. 20 raids to search the homes of Latino candidates and voting rights activists, Raoul and the coalition argue the Texas attorney general’s office is perpetuating a racist, baseless claim in order to intimidate voters of color. * News Guard | Triple Hearsay: Original Sources of the Claim that Haitians Eat Pets in Ohio Admit No First-Hand Knowledge: NewsGuard identified and tracked down the two people central to the claim: Erika Lee, the Springfield resident who wrote the original Facebook post, and Kimberly Newton, the neighbor who had provided her with a third-hand account of the rumor, making Lee’s social media post a fourth-hand account: the alleged acquaintance/cat owner; Newton’s friend; Newton; and Lee, who posted it on Facebook. In exclusive interviews, NewsGuard spoke both with Lee, a 35-year-old hardware store worker who has lived in Springfield for four years, and Newton, her neighbor and a 12-year resident of Springfield. The interviews reveal just how flimsy and unsubstantiated the rumor was from the beginning — based entirely on third hand hearsay. Yet it quickly gained traction and, remarkably, found its way to Trump’s lips on a national stage.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. Click here to keep up with the La Schiazza trial. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Friday, Sep 13, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
If you want live updates from the trial, we’ve added a link to the live coverage post.
* WTVO…
* Shaw Local…
* Tribune | ‘Is there even a small contract for Eddie Acevedo?’: Jury sees emails from Madigan confidant asking AT&T to pay former rep: When Michael McClain, the longtime confidant of House Speaker Michael Madigan and fixture at the Illinois Capitol, announced he was retiring from lobbying in 2016, it immediately caught the attention of people over at AT&T. “Huge news,” AT&T President Paul La Schiazza emailed to a colleague on the company’s legislative affairs team. “A shame Exelon was the one to benefit from (McClain’s) last big gig….Unfortunate for us.” * Illinois Times | Law aimed at helping people experiencing a mental health crisis was originally set to go live in 2022: The Community Emergency Services and Supports Act, or CESSA, requires mental and behavioral health calls to 911 be handled by mental health professionals, rather than police. It was supposed to go into effect on July 1, 2022 – two years before Massey, who was having a mental health crisis, was shot by then-Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson. “I think if this system were in place, and emergency responders were trained and aware of what is available to them, then I think Sonya Massey would still be with us today,” said Candace Coleman, community strategy specialist with Access Living, a Chicago-based organization that advocates for disabled people. * WTHI | Illinois seeking public input on how to shape next education budget: ISBE says past requests have led to more funding in certain areas, like early childhood education. The board especially encourages teachers, parents, and community advocates to make their voices heard. “Public advocacy is crucial in shaping the education experiences for all students,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. * Sun-Times | Brandon Johnson a ‘woefully unprepared’ mayor, City Council critic says: Ald. Brendan Reilly is in almost constant contact with business leaders, and “all they want to talk about” is finding a candidate to defeat Johnson in 2027. “Barring a dramatic turnaround — a miraculous turnaround, and I just don’t see that happening — Mayor Johnson is likely a one-term mayor,” Reilly said Thursday.
* Sun-Times | Chicago primed to pay out $15 million to more victims of police misconduct: The biggest settlement — $11.6 million — would go to Anthony Jakes, who falsely confessed to being an accomplice in a 1991 murder when he was just 15 after being beaten by members of Cmdr. Burge’s infamous “midnight crew.” Jakes spent 20 years in prison before being released in 2012. * Tribune | First Watts accuser to settle lawsuit is in line for $500,000 payout, records show: The first settlement agreement between the city and an alleged victim of ex-Chicago police Sgt. Ronald Watts puts Watts’ accuser in line for half a million dollars, records released Thursday show. Alvin Waddy’s lawsuit was the first to reach resolution out of more than 150 that have been filed against the city related to Watts and his team. It remains to be seen how the agreed payout affects the rest of the cases, but given the sheer volume of lawsuits, the Watts scandal could become one of the most expensive in Chicago police history. * Block Club | CHA Board Could Soon Have 2 New Members Who ‘Get It’: Mayor Brandon Johnson nominated Brian “Jawanza” Malone and Juliana Gonzalez-Crussi — both longtime community activists and nonprofit leaders — to fill two vacant spots on the housing agency’s board. Their appointments were unanimously approved by the Committee on Housing and Real Estate and now go before the full City Council, which is expected to sign off as soon as Sept. 18. * Tribune | UIC pharmacy school gets $36 million donation from late Chicago pharmacy owners: The pharmacy school — which will now be called the Herbert M. and Carol H. Retzky College of Pharmacy — is the first college at UIC to be named after a donor. The donation is the largest ever received by the pharmacy college. It was given to the college as an endowment, meaning the money will be invested to generate income to be used by the college. That income will go toward merit-based scholarships for students and career development programs. * Tribune | Cyclist completes world-record attempt in downtown Chicago: ‘I felt like I could just keep riding forever’: Celebrated endurance bicyclist Lael Wilcox finished a 108-day journey around the world at Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain Wednesday evening, completing a trip of more than 18,000 miles in a bid to break the Guinness World Record for fastest circumnavigation of the world on a bike by a woman. […] Wilcox rode roughly 160 miles a day with a heart rate monitor, a witness book and a power meter to document her as-yet unsubmitted bid to break the current record of 124 days. Her wife, 31-year-old photographer Rue Kaladyte, has traveled with her and produced a podcast, Lael Rides Around the World, and kept followers up to date via Instagram. She is also working on a documentary about the bid, she told the Tribune Tuesday. * WBEZ | Chicago Park District board welcomes back Riot Fest – despite heavy community criticism: One activist bemoaned how the Park District was allowing “significant damage” to Douglass Park and said parks should be enjoyed by everyone instead of being “rented out to the highest bidder.” But Ald. Monique Scott, 24th Ward, lashed out at those critics as she gave her endorsement to Riot Fest, raising her voice to say that “most of the people that spoke against the Riot Fest, I’ve never seen you in my community.” * NYT | Loyalty, history and $5 beers: Why fans still come out to see the Chicago White Sox: The White Sox sold 11,429 tickets for Monday’s game, though the true attendance count appeared to be less than half of that. There was a slight uptick Tuesday, maybe because of a $5 beer promotion or because fans wanted to snatch up some of the last Campfire Milkshakes of the season. Or there’s another reason, one that has grown in importance as this impressively bad season has worn on: witnessing the train wreck, one loss at a time. * Daily Southtown | Homer Glen plans workshop to advise 143rd Street residents receiving eminent domain notices: Homer Glen officials plan to host an informational meeting with their village attorney to help residents who have received eminent domain notices from Will County over the planned widening of 143rd Street. Residents living along the route have protested the widening for nearly a year. While the road is under Will County’s jurisdiction, they have sought help from Homer Glen village officials, who also oppose expanding the road. * Lake County News-Sun | Alleged Highland Park parade shooter ‘declined transport’ to court hearing: Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti waived Crimo’s presence after his public defenders said he “declined transport” from the county jail, where he is being detained for the July 4, 2022 mass shooting that killed seven people and injured dozens more. The attorneys did not give a reason for Crimo’s reluctance to come to court, and Rossetti told them to remind the defendant that his lack of attendance would not delay the case. * WBEZ | A new lawsuit alleges Hawthorne Race Course allowed horses to race after they’d been deemed ineligible: The Chicago-area’s longest-operating horse-racing track is being sued along with state regulators for allegedly allowing dozens of horses to race despite medical diagnoses from a now-terminated track veterinarian they were physically unfit to run. The federal lawsuit filed Thursday against Hawthorne Race Course, the Illinois Racing Board and others at the track and state agency comes from a former Hawthorne veterinarian, Christine Tuma, who alleges she was fired after reporting alleged misconduct at Hawthorne to state and federal agencies. * Sun-Times | Haitian Americans in Chicago deride Trump’s false, racist claims of immigrants eating pets: The mention was also upsetting to Skokie resident Marleen Julien, a Haiti native who has lived in America for 35 years. She called it a way for Trump and Republicans to divide people — and she said it’s specifically targeting a humanitarian program under President Joe Biden that allowed Haitian Americans to come to the U.S. legally due to unrest in the country. * Sun-Times | Vatican slaps down Joliet bishop’s efforts to close historic parish in far southwest suburb: The arm of the Vatican that “revoked” the parish closing in an order dated Aug. 20 raised questions about Hicks’ reasoning, including finances, mass attendance and the “near disappearance of the Slovenian community.” Michael Vidmar, who filed the appeal with support from numerous parishioners, was happy with the Vatican’s ruling but says, “We made it this far but we still don’t know what the bishop is going to do” from here. * PJ Star | Peoria student’s photos of mold on school lunch cause Facebook uproar: This is not the first time food quality at Peoria Public Schools has been a hot button issue for parents and students. In 2022, more than 100 parents shared their concerns with the Journal Star over the poor food quality at Peoria Public Schools, and state Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth, D-Peoria, even pushed a bill in Springfield that aimed to increase the quality of food served in schools. * WCIA | ‘It takes a village’: Mahomet-Seymour schools to host event for special education students and families: Teachers and organizations are getting ready to build deeper relationships with Mahomet families who have students in special education programs. It’s all part of its inaugural “education and empowerment” event on Sept. 12 at Middletown Prairie Elementary. Tracy Patterson, a special ed teacher in the district, said it’s been in the works for years. She is one of many educators who want to ensure parents have the tools needed to help their kids succeed. * SJ-R | Downtown Springfield business launches fundraiser to keep doors open: The fallout continues nearly three months after a fire in the 400 block of East Adams Street in downtown Springfield. While the anchor restaurant at 413 E. Adams St., Cafe Moxo, remains closed and other businesses have moved locations entirely, The Keep Store, a block away at 314 E. Adams St., recently launched a fundraising effort to help keep the business’ doors open. * WSJ | Dumbphones and Fax Machines Are the New Boss Flex: If you think your new iPhone is a status symbol, prepare to be punked—or, rather, Punkt—by Benjamin Crudo’s dumbphone. The chief executive of Diff, which makes software for online retailers, calls and texts from a 4.6-by-2-inch brick with buttons called a Punkt MP02. Send an email or Slack message and the 41-year-old Crudo won’t respond until he is in front of his computer. * ProPublica | “I Don’t Want to Die”: Needing Mental Health Care, He Got Trapped in His Insurer’s Ghost Network: Ravi didn’t know it, but he, like millions of Americans, was trapped in a “ghost network.” As some of those people have discovered, the providers listed in an insurer’s network have either retired or died. Many other providers have stopped accepting insurance — often because the companies made it excessively difficult for them to do so. Some just aren’t taking new patients. Insurers are often slow to remove them from directories, if they do so at all. It adds up to a bait and switch by insurance companies that leads customers to believe there are more options for care than actually exist. * NBC Chicago | TSA proposes new rule that could change how REAL ID deadline is enforced next year: While the approaching deadline of May 7, 2025, remains in place, the TSA has proposed a plan that would delay full enforcement for another two years. That wouldn’t mean that travelers won’t need their REAL ID until 2027, however. “Travelers without a REAL ID compliant ID or another form of acceptable ID after the May 7, 2025 deadline could face delays at airport security checkpoints,” the agency said in a release, noting the potential for warnings or possibly “progressive consequences” for those without a compliant ID. * AP | Average rate on a 30-year mortgage falls to 6.20%, its lowest level since February 2023: The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. fell this week to its lowest level in 19 months, reflecting a pullback in Treasury yields ahead of an expected interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve next week. The rate fell to 6.20% from 6.35% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.18%. * LA Times | The GOP is targeting ‘noncitizen voting,’ but experts agree it’s not a problem: This week House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., tried to tie a bill to extend government spending and avert a federal shutdown to a controversial GOP proposal — the SAVE Act — that would require states to obtain proof of U.S. citizenship when people register to vote. Johnson pulled the idea Wednesday due to lack of support from even his own members. But the issue isn’t likely going away.
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Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] 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 Brad, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Question of the day
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * The setup…
* The Question: Should Jerry Reinsdorf sell the White Sox? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
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Fun with numbers
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Total electric vehicle counts for Illinois as of August 15th of each year, according to the Secretary of State’s office…
* 2019: 16,882 (+66%) * 2020: 22,612 (+34%) * 2021: 32,561 (+44%) * 2022: 48,917 (+50%) * 2023: 79,559 (+63%) * 2024: 111,107 (+40%) * I asked Isabel to make a couple of graphs… 
* Crain’s headline…
* Scroll way down…
Elon has been damaging his brand with his online antics…
* Also, according to AAA, last year at this time, Illinois gas prices averaged $3.979 per gallon. Today, they’re $3.49 per gallon, a 12 percent drop. * More from the Crain’s story…
That’s still only about half the chargers the state needs, according to the article. * If the current rate of a 40 percent annual increase holds (and it may not), Illinois will have 837,000 electric vehicles on the road by mid-August of 2030. That’ll obviously be short of the governor’s 1 million goal. But, if auto manufacturers continue improving their products and Illinois’ charging infrastructure finally catches up with demand, then the goal is achievable. …Adding… There are also 359,738 hybrid vehicles registered in Illinois. The last time I had a hybrid, I barely used any gasoline except for road trips.
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After 20 years, Illinois’ neglected arson registry is no longer empty
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Pantagraph in January…
* Earlier this week from the Pantagraph…
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Fourth time’s the charm: Chicago data residency ordinance moves forward (Updated)
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* The ordinance was blocked by the mayor’s office and the business community in July…
*The ordinance passed the Economic, Capital and Technology Development Committee yesterday. The Tribune…
* Sun-Times…
* Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce…
* The Software & Information Industry Association…
…Adding… President of the Chicago Urban League Karen Freeman-Wilson…
…Adding… Alderman Gilbert Villegas…
Thoughts?
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Open thread
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: End of cash bail in Illinois has not resulted in more crime, but has affected court system. CBS…
- But the law has, in fact, impacted the court system in other ways. Professor David Olson of the Loyola University Chicago Center for Criminal Justice said he’s hearing more about “strength of evidence” and “risk assessment.” - Of the nearly 9,000 detention-eligible cases in Illinois at which the team looked, 36% of defendants were detained. - Before the law went into effect, about 17% of defendants missed their court appearance. Now, it is 15%. * Related stories…
∙ The Daily Line: One year of no cash bail: Crime is not up with ‘more thoughtful process’ in court system * Sun-Times | All agree ‘King Madigan’ ruled, but jurors must decide whether speaker was bribed in latest corruption trial: Now La Schiazza is accused of bribing Madigan by hiring a Madigan ally in order to get crucial legislation passed. Though La Schiazza’s attorneys don’t dispute Madigan’s influence, prosecutors still hammered the point home to jurors as the trial began in earnest Wednesday. “Madigan exercised enormous control over Illinois politics and policy,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mower said in his opening statement. “And that power was no secret, including to the defendant.” * Tribune | ‘Everyone in the system is beholden to the speaker’: Opening statements kick off trial of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan: Mower said Cullen and Selcke will tell the jury that “Acevedo was one of the last people that anyone at AT&T wanted working for their company,” largely because of his loose lips and lack of work ethic. “Acevedo talked too much, drank too much and was generally despised by Republicans in Springfield,” [ Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mower] said. So they came up with a scheme to pay Acevedo through a third party — Cullen — and keep his name completely off AT&T’s books, Mower said. * Tribune | Jerry Reinsdorf concedes the obvious — it’s a ‘very painful’ season for Chicago White Sox fans: With the Chicago White Sox drawing national attention as they close in on the modern-day MLB record for losses, Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf conceded the obvious Wednesday, calling it a “very painful” season. “Everyone in this organization is extremely unhappy with the results of this season, that goes without saying,” Reinsdorf said in a statement released after reporters left the clubhouse following the team’s 114th loss, a 6-4 defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Guardians. * 25 News Now | State government investing money to find the homeless population jobs, the planning starts now: Most of the program’s money is going to organizations near Chicago, but a team of groups in Central Illinois have received $841,190 to support their work. Career Link will be administering the grant, while United Way and Phoenix Community Development Services will work directly with unhoused people. […] They plan to provide job training and support services that will help people overcome barriers to employment. Some of their ideas are rapid rehousing, job readiness training, and adult education, but the planning process just began. * KFVS | Illinois lawmakers hold hearing pharmacy benefit managers impact on specialty drug market: Wednesday’s state House Health Care Availability and Accessibility Committee hearing focused on PBMs and specifically how they affect the specialty drug market. Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI) Acting Director Ann Gillespie said the FTC report shows PBMs are classifying more drugs as specialty. * Crain’s | Pritzker wants to rev up EVs in Illinois, but buyers are tapping the brakes: New EV registrations this year averaged 2,457 per month through August, or about 12% less than during the same period a year ago, according to the Illinois secretary of state. EVs made up about 5.9% of all new-car registrations in Illinois through the first six months of this year, compared with 6.5% last year, according to S&P Global Mobility. There were 111,107 EVs registered in Illinois as of mid-August, according to the Illinois secretary of state. The total number of EVs is still growing, up 21% year-to-date. But it’s increasing more slowly than before. * Sun-Times | Illinois DMVs now accepting contactless payment — with digital IDs coming down the road: State business services and index facilities have also been equipped with new credit card readers to accept contactless payments, including tap-to-pay cards that don’t require signatures. “More and more people are ditching their physical wallets for digital ones,” Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said. ““We are leveraging this to shorten waiting times, get people out the door more quickly and keep people’s information more safe from fraud in the process.” * WTTW | WTTW News Explains: How Does the Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Work?: At a high level, the law describes an assault weapon as a semiautomatic firearm with the capacity to fire a lot of rounds quickly. That includes AR-15 style guns — like those used in the mass shootings in suburban Highland Park, as well as in Uvalde, Texas; Buffalo, New York; and elsewhere. The law prohibits high-capacity magazines as well, defining them as anything with at least 10 rounds of ammunition for long guns; 15 for handguns. * Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson exempts police, fire from citywide hiring freeze after backlash: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration announced Wednesday that a recent hiring freeze across city government would not apply to police and fire employees, following backlash and confusion from pro-law enforcement aldermen. Johnson’s budget team spokesperson, LaKesha Gage Woodard, told the Tribune in a phone call that public safety positions are in fact exempt from the hiring freeze enacted Monday but maintained that was always the plan. “No, it wasn’t a reversal. Absolutely not,” Gage Woodard said. * Chalkbeat | Contributions start flowing into Chicago’s school board race: Campaigning in Chicago’s historic school board race is ramping up, and so are financial and in-kind contributions to candidates, which now total at least $650,000. Recent weeks have seen an uptick in support for Chicago Teachers Union-endorsed candidates and others who are drawing backing from political committees, labor unions, and other organized groups. Meanwhile, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools’ political arm is finalizing a slate of candidates to endorse and gearing up to enter the fray with a multimillion-dollar war chest at a time when the district has signaled a move away from school choice and charters are under growing scrutiny. * Tribune | Court finds Trump Tower violated environmental laws and endangered fish in the Chicago River: “Effectively, what was found is, there’s no question that they have done all the things that they were accused of doing,” Margaret Frisbie, executive director of Friends of the Chicago River, told the Tribune. A lawsuit filed in 2018 by then-Attorney General Lisa Madigan alleged the cooling system intake structure at Trump Tower siphoned water from the river so powerfully that it sucked in fish and trapped them against its screens, resulting in the death of thousands of aquatic organisms. Because of the system’s capability to pull in more than 20 million gallons of water from the river per day, federal law required extensive studies of its environmental impact and of fish populations in the river. The building also pumps water back into the river that is up to 35 degrees hotter. * Sun-Times | Mom of slain Chicago Police Officer Ella French confronts killer as he gets life in prison: ‘With our choices come consequences’: Kim Foxx, who as state’s attorney has championed exonerations for people wrongfully imprisoned and has overseen hundreds of cases overturned over police misconduct allegations, said Morgan’s case didn’t compare with those. Foxx told reporters she was sympathetic to “whatever reality” Flores had to create to process the consequences for her son but added, “I don’t think this is a sentence that anyone, outside of Mr. Morgan’s mother, would question as a just sentence.” * Block Club | ComEd Cited For Giant, Unfixed Hole On South Side Block: City officials have cited ComEd in connection with an unfinished construction project that’s left a huge hole in the middle of a South Side block for months. The utility company is being cited for operating with an expired permit in May, when workers dug into the ground to fix earlier damage to its cable lines, Chicago Department of Transportation spokesperson Erica Schroeder told Block Club Chicago. * US News | Chicago’s Suburbs and the Blue Shift in Illinois: Chicago’s four other collar counties, the nickname given to the five counties that surround the centrally located Cook County in the Chicago metropolitan area, have followed similar evolutions. In 2000, none of the five collar counties gave the Democratic presidential nominee a majority. By 2020, four of the five – all but McHenry County – backed the Democratic presidential candidate, with vote shares between 53% and 61%. * Daily Herald | Elk Grove reverses rule aimed at deterring migrants from local motels: Since enacting the ordinance, Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson said there were no reports of migrants staying in local hotels, and none since nearly 100 Venezuelan migrants left the former La Quinta Inn in April 2023. The motel — since purchased and demolished by the village — was among the first suburban locations to host new arrivals in September 2022. […] Elk Grove is keeping a different part of its ordinance that aims to prevent owners of warehouses or vacant shopping centers from turning their buildings into temporary housing. Property owners have to get a village license and meet certain zoning and health and safety requirements, such as providing a complete bathroom including flush toilet, sink, bath or shower in each sleeping unit. * Daily Herald | Naperville could settle wrongful conviction lawsuit for $22.5 million: Amor was sentenced to 45 years in prison in 1997, after he was convicted of arson and murder in connection with the 1995 death of his mother-in-law, Marianne Miceli, in a condo fire on the 1800 block of Bailey Road in Naperville. Amor maintained his confession was coerced and experts testified at his second trial that the way he confessed to starting the fire was impossible. The same year he was acquitted, Amor filed a lawsuit against the city claiming that Naperville police officers “reached an agreement among themselves” to frame him. * Daily Herald | Mount Prospect ethics policy seeps into festival discussion: Mount Prospect’s recent passage of an ethics ordinance is already affecting village business. Two trustees, William Grossi and Vince Dante, withdrew from Tuesday’s public discussion about a new special events policy, citing potential conflicts of interest stemming from their involvement with the Lions Club. Grossi is current president, while Dante is a past president. The village supports such Lions Club events as the Bluesmobile Cruise Nights, the 4th of July Festival and the Farmers Market. The Lions donate annually to help stock the village’s food pantry. * WCIA | U of I service workers reach new agreement with university, members voting: SEIU Local 73, representing food and building service workers, told WCIA that it reached a tentative agreement with the university on Wednesday. Union members will be voting through the end of the week on whether to ratify the new contract. A union representative said they expect to have another statement available on Friday. * WCIA | Central IL police investigating string of recent school threats: Several police departments across Central Illinois are investigating a series of threats that have been made against area schools this week. So far, it appears that the threats are part of a nationwide trend with no apparent connection to the area.
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Live coverage
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. Click here to keep up with the La Schiazza trial. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * “Many Illinois county clerks have left amid mistrust, threats associated with 2024 election,” by CBS 2 Chicago…
* The Tribune’s Jason Meisner, the Sun-Times’ Jon Seidel and Hannah Meisel from Capitol News Illinois are live tweeting Paul La Schiazza’s bribery trial. Assistant US Attorney Paul Mower had this jab this morning…
* Crain’s…
* Sun-Times | Illinois AG Kwame Raoul, local Haitian Americans, deride Trump’s false accusation of Haitians eating pets:“My initial reaction was, I don’t even want to get offended, because that would reflect me recognizing it as a statement that was coming from somebody that was competent,” Raoul said. * The Times Weekly | Teen voter registration surges after Illinois’ pre-registration law took effect: Marking National Teen Voter Registration Day, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias reported that nearly 50,000 16- and 17-year-olds have taken advantage of a new law that enables them to pre-register to vote before turning 18. National Teen Voter Registration Day is a nationwide push to get teens involved in the democratic process, with many communities hosting voter registration drives at local high schools. * WSIL | The Mississippi River is running low again. It’s a problem for farmers moving beans and grain: It was just two months ago that much of the Mississippi River was above flood stage north of St. Louis. Since then, the river level has dropped steadily. The area south of St. Louis has been hit especially hard, mirroring low-water concerns that began around this same time of year in both 2022 and 2023. As part of the fallout, barge companies are forced to limit the soybeans, grain and other cargo they carry to prevent barges from potentially getting stuck. That means less profit for farmers. * Sun-Times | Three City Council leaders demand ouster of top mayoral aide who called police ‘f—ing pigs’: Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), the former Chicago Police sergeant who chairs the Council’s Police Committee, was so outraged by Bartley’s “disparaging” comments about the police, he demanded that Johnson take immediate action against her. […] Public Safety Committee Chair Brian Hopkins (2nd) argued that it is “incumbent on all city employees to support our first-responders” and Bartley’s comments are “incompatible” with that imperative. * Chicago Reader | The Cook County state’s attorney’s Brady list is missing more than 100 cops who made false or misleading statements.: Reporters found that police officers are rarely investigated for making false reports alone. A review of more than two dozen COPA summary reports with sustained Rule 14 violations showed an overwhelming majority included disciplinary findings related to other rule violations. Many came in the context of serious misconduct allegations, such as excessive use of force, unlawful search or arrest, or wrongful discharge of a firearm. * Block Club | After Lincoln Square Gym, Nearby Mosque Shot At, Muslim Chicagoans Fear ‘Targeted’ Attacks: Members of Chicago’s Muslim community are asking police to investigate whether multiple incidents where someone damaged windows and doors at an Irving Park mosque and a Muslim-owned martial arts gym in Lincoln Square in the past three months were targeted attacks. […] “I don’t understand. This is the second time we have camera footage of someone driving by and someone from the passenger side shoots at the gym. We made a police report and gave police footage back then,” Idriz Redzovic said. * Chalkbeat | Special education advocates file new state complaint on bus service in Chicago Public Schools: The advocates say CPS is violating a federal law that requires districts to provide transportation for students with disabilities if it is in their Individualized Education Programs. They say students need reliable transportation to go to school without disruptions and are urging the state board to monitor the district as it did in 2021 and 2022. As of Sept. 4, the district reported 2,226 students with disabilities had yet to be routed. A spokesperson said the latest number includes new transportation requests, students who have been permanently approved for a stipend, and students who have been temporarily approved for a stipend but are waiting for a route. The district reported that 9,232 students had bus service as of Sept. 4, up from 8,782 students on Aug. 21. * WBBM | Chicago to close three migrant shelters by end of October, officials say: Chicago, which at one point had 26 shelters, is down to 17. People in the shelters being closed will be offered places and service at one of the remaining shelters. City leaders said the decision to trim excess beds was made in the interest of fiscal responsibility. * Sun-Times | Parting shot? Last-ditch effort seeks to let Chicago’s top cop extend ShotSpotter deal: Ald. David Moore (17th) introduced the ordinance in mid-July, pushing to give Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling the power to extend the existing deal with ShotSpotter’s parent company, SoundThinking, or enter into a new contract for similar technology. Moore told the Sun-Times he plans to use a parliamentary maneuver at next week’s City Council meeting to force a vote on the ordinance, which has languished in the rules committee, where legislation often goes to die. * WTTW | Ex-Ald. Carrie Austin Set to Stand Trial Nov. 3, 2025 — More Than 4 Years After Indictment: However, it remains far from certain that Austin, 75, will ever face a jury. U.S. District Court Judge John F. Kness ordered Austin to undergo a physical examination by an expert doctor to determine whether she is too ill to stand trial, as her lawyers insist. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois say the evidence shows Austin is “alert, lucid and responsive” and fit to stand trial. * City Bureau | ‘I Know What I’m Worth’: The Joys and Struggles of Chicago’s Migrant Go-Go Dancers: At this particular nightclub, about seven dancers are Venezuelan or Colombian. A bar patron in town from Texas said he noticed this same trend in male strip clubs down south, as well. The shift, in some ways, is tied to cultural tropes of Latino passion, says Héctor Carrillo, a professor of sociology at Northwestern University who studies sexuality, immigration and health. His 2017 book, “Pathways of Desire: The Sexual Migration of Mexican Gay Men,” tells the stories of gay Mexican immigrants in San Diego, before and after their journeys to the United States. * Crain’s | Obamas’ old Hyde Park condo hits the market: Kurt and Jennifer Elling are asking $550,000 for the four-bedroom condo in East View Park, a block-long row of brick six-flats that share a big private greenspace and face a quiet stretch of public park west of DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The first-floor condo, which still has the green tile fireplace Michelle Obama is pictured with in an early 2000s portrait shot by Katrina Wittkamp for Chicago magazine, is going on the market today. * Tribune | At Chiu Quon, Chicago’s oldest Chinese bakery, mooncakes take center stage for the Mid-Autumn Festival: The moon-shaped pastries are not just desserts but symbols of the harvest season carrying with them the cultural heritage honored across Asia, said Joyce Chiu, owner of Chiu Quon Bakery. “Moon festival is a time for families to get together, have a nice meal together and sit around sharing mooncakes,” Chiu said. “And all the little details, the packaging, and the design are always super intentional.” * Daily Southtown | Thornton Township trustees vote to cancel events planned by Supervisor Tiffany Henyard: During a combative meeting Tuesday night, Thornton Township trustees refused to approve events they say invite reckless spending on the part of Supervisor Tiffany Henyard, who has been under consistent scrutiny for financial mismanagement as township supervisor and Dolton mayor. Henyard railed against Trustees Chris Gonzalez, Carmen Carlisle and Gerald Jones for voting to cancel the upcoming Gospel Fest, House Fest and bingo, saying the events predate her administration. The board approved the monthly Tech Savvy event that provides technology skills training with a reduced budget. * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora gathers to reflect on those lost during Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks: ‘Never forget’: Former Aurora resident Miguel Munoz, who now lives in Kentucky, was in town this week to visit his wife’s family and decided to bring his 9-year-old daughter Rin to Aurora’s event on Wednesday honoring those who lost their lives 23 years ago during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. “I wanted her to be here because I think it’s important for her to know the history,” Munoz said about his daughter as they waited for the start of the ceremony held outside the Aurora Police Department headquarters at 1200 E. Indian Trail. “Eventually, she is going to start learning about this in school, but I wanted her to have a first-hand experience about how people felt during that time – people who were there and people who were around then.” * Daily Herald | Sugar Grove OKs controversial 761-acre development proposal: Despite passionate opposition from some residents, the Sugar Grove village board on Tuesday approved the controversial mixed-use The Grove development. The board voted 4-2 to annex 761 acres at I-88 and Route 47, and create a planned development district with housing, offices, stores and businesses that could include warehouses and data centers. * WSIL | Williamson County Supervisor of Assessments to Resign: The Williamson County Supervisor of Assessments Alex Simpson stated he was asked by the Williamson County Commissioners to resign his position. This resignation letter was dated for September 11, 2024. * SJ-R | ‘Moved’ by SPD chief’s speech, family of crash victim wants transparency in investigation: An emotional Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette said Tuesday that a retired police sergeant charged in a crash involving two people on a motorcycle last week “failed his oath” and “embarrassed the profession of law enforcement.” Scarlette also apologized for “the lack of compassion” shown by officers at the crash site near Lake Springfield where many believe Michael Egan, who was on the last day of his job but off duty, was shown favoritism. * NPR Illinois | UIS sees a slight drop in fall enrollment: The University of Illinois Springfield has 33 fewer students on campus this fall compared to a year ago. The school announced its official enrollment numbers Wednesday. The drop ends a two year run of enrollment increases. Last year, the number of students jumped 11%. * WCIA | Crunching the numbers of U of I’s record-breaking enrollment: University officials said total student enrollment for the fall of 2024 stands at a record number of 59,238. This number consists of 37,140 undergraduates and 20,765 graduate students who attend in-person, on-campus classes and classes online. The freshman Class of 2028 consists of 9,008 students, also a new record. Within this number: * STLPR | East St. Louis forum attendees propose community-driven solutions to child poverty: Children’s Advocates for Change, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization, hosted a forum aimed at addressing child poverty in East St. Louis, where the poverty rate for children is three times the national average. More than 100 educators, religious leaders, metro-east officials and others gathered at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s East St. Louis Learning Center to discuss potential solutions. * AP | Election officials warn that widespread problems with the US mail system could disrupt voting: In an alarming letter, the officials said that over the past year, including the just-concluded primary season, mailed ballots that were postmarked on time were received by local election offices days after the deadline to be counted. They also noted that properly addressed election mail was being returned to them as undeliverable, a problem that could automatically send voters to inactive status through no fault of their own, potentially creating chaos when those voters show up to cast a ballot. * Missouri Independent | GOP legislator’s son asks Supreme Court to order inquiry into donations to Missouri AG: Eight months into his term as Missouri’s attorney general, Andrew Bailey withdrew his office from defending a state agency being sued by a legislator’s son for disability discrimination. A few months earlier, his campaign and an affiliated political action committee accepted more than $150,000 in donations connected to a witness in the case.
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Map shows historical decline of county populations, with about a third peaking between 1870 and 1900
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * This map is from a PowerPoint displayed at a recent faculty Senate meeting at Western Illinois University. Click the pic for a larger image…  The full document is here. Discuss.
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Question of the day
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * AG press release…
The letter is here. * The Question: What do you think about this proposal? Explain.
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23 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Illinois remembers the lives lost
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Patch…
* Winnetka annually plants 2,977 American Flags to remember victims…
* More… * SJ-R | ‘I’m not sure if it ever, ever sunk in’: Harvel World Trade Center survivor remembers 9/11: When a plane initially hit Tower 1 of the World Trade Center at 7:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, Shelley Lebeck felt the building go sideways and then right itself. Lebeck, a Harvel native working on the 44th floor as an office manager for a trade group for Wall Street technical analysts, said she thought it was an explosion. A small plane flying into the building also crossed her mind. […] “I’m not sure if it ever, ever sunk in, that it was all gone like that,” Lebeck said of the twin towers. * WILL | 800 Miles from Ground Zero: 9/11’s Impact on Central Illinois: The first plane hit the World Trade Center in NYC at 7:46 CST in 2001. In this first episode of 800 Miles from Ground Zero: 9/11’s Impact on Central Illinois listeners hear memories from this day and the weeks following from a variety of people currently living in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois who recount their experiences during a time that horrified, traumatized, and brought together a nation. * NBC Chicago | From the Archives: Survivor Recalls His Viral 9/11 Email: Adam Mayblum worked on the 87th floor of the World Trade Center’s north tower, just below where American Airlines Flight 11 struck, and he was one of the few who made it out. Shortly after he walked down all those flights of stairs, past firefighters going the other way, he wrote an email to family and friends describing his experience. It quickly went viral, and Mayblum’s words resonated around the world as people were able to relive those moments he spent inside the tower. * Patch | 9/11 Remembrance Events Scheduled For Glencoe, Northfield, Winnetka: In communities around New Trier Township, ceremonies are being held to honor those slain. In Glencoe, the public safety department has partnered with the Am Shalom synagogue to host a memorial service at the flagpole at the coroner of Vernon and Lincoln avenues. It begins at 7:46 a.m. on Wednesday. * WGN | CFD hold memorial tribute on 23rd anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks: The Chicago Fire Department held a memorial tribute on Wednesday at Engine 42 headquarters on the Near North Side to mark the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A moment of silence is scheduled occurred at 7:46 a.m. * Shaw Local | 9/11 remembrances will mark anniversary in McHenry County: Algonquin: The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District will host a public remembrance ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at Riverfront Park, 201 N Harrison St., Algonquin. Carpentersville: Join the Carpentersville Fire Department in the 23rd anniversary of the National Day of Service and Remembrance 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Carpentersville Fire Station 91, 213 Spring St. * WSIL | Benton School Honors Victims of 9/11 Attacks: A local school is honoring the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Benton Consolidated High School is displaying 2,977 American Flags on their front lawn and joining campuses across the nation this week in honoring the victims. This is part of the Never Forget Project with the Young America’s Foundation which launched in 2003. * Daily Herald | Sept. 11 observances across the suburbs: Evanston 9/11 Ceremony: 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Firemen’s Park, Simpson Street and Maple Avenue in Evanston. The Evanston fire and police departments will honor the brave men and women who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. * KMOX | Saluki Stair Climb in Southern Illinois set to honor 9/11 victims: Lt. Col Chay Derbigny, commander and professor of aerospace studies for SIUC’s Air Force ROTC detachment 205, explained that his predecessor originally came up with the idea. “She had the idea last year and she ran it. I mean that was her baby and she made it an incredible event that doubled the pot of people that they were expecting to participate just out of her marketing efforts,” said Derbigny.
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IDOC responds to more Menard claims from Sen. Bryant
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Some background is here if you need it. Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) was on Will Stephens’ WXAN radio show on Monday and said this about Menard Correctional Center, which is in her district…
* So, I reached out to IDOC for a response and received this late yesterday afternoon…
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Open thread
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Opening statements are scheduled to begin this morning in the federal corruption trial of Paul La Schiazza. Capitol News Illinois…
- The 12-member jury and three alternates were chosen from a pool of 60 from Chicago and its suburbs. The final group includes nine women and six men ranging from recent college graduates to sexagenarians. - In an unusual move, the prosecutors’ and defense attorneys’ peremptory strikes were not made in open court, but each side exercised their right to nix members of the pool before Gettleman announced the final group. * Related stories… ∙ Tribune: Jury selected in trial of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Michael Madigan ∙ Tribune: Opening statements to kick off trial of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Ex-House Speaker Madigan * WAND | Illinois agency criticized for implementation of child care provider grant program: The Smart Start grant program was created to help day care providers recruit and retain workers without burdening families by raising tuition or co-pays. However, the Illinois Department of Human Services implemented the grant program without a top committee of state lawmakers approving the rules. JCAR members noted that DHS did not file rules for the grant program until July 5, 2024. Yet, the agency had already opened and closed the application process for the grant program before filing the rules. “While the department cited the need to negotiate with stakeholders and obtain appropriations for the program as the reason for the delay in promulgating rules, the consultation and rulemaking processes could have been started any time after the public act became effective,” JCAR wrote. * PJ Star | ‘Serious criminal charges’ possible as Peoria police investigating anti-violence group: Peoria Mayor Rita Ali said she has not yet had any discussions with the City/County Board of Health about its decision to cut ties with the Cure Violence initiative but did say she “respects their decision” and understands that there were “capacity issues” with some of the non-profits awarded money. “I think there became some problems along the way from what I understand, again without many real details, I think there were some capacity issues,” Ali told the Journal Star. “I was disappointed, of course, that Cure Violence is not likely to continue or happen for Peoria. It is a national and international strategy and project that has happened very successfully in other cities across the world and across the nation.” * Capitol News Illinois | Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act: The second case the court heard Tuesday concerned Christian Mikolaitis, 19, of Elwood, who was arrested in December 2023 and charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for allegedly stabbing another individual during a drug deal. Prosecutors filed a petition to hold Mikolaitis pending trial, arguing that he continued to pose a real and present danger to the victim. But they did not make an argument as to why conditions of release could not mitigate the risk he posed. * Block Club | City To Close Troubled Pilsen Migrant Shelter, 2 Others As Pace Of New Arrivals Slows: The city is closing three more migrant shelters — including one of its largest and most troubled — as a federal order slows border crossings and a pledge to send more buses during the Democratic National Convention did not materialize. Next month, the city will close the three shelters located at a Pilsen warehouse, 2241 S. Halsted St., a West Loop office building, 344 N. Ogden Ave., and Kenwood’s Lakeshore Hotel, 4900 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, a Department of Family and Support Services spokesperson said in a statement. * Tribune | As shelters close, a CPS migrant family sleeps in a truck to stay close to school: Facing pressure to leave the shelter from city officials but wanting to stay near his son’s school, Reynaldo’s father Yohan Perdomo, 37, made the decision to sleep in the truck instead of move elsewhere. “If I had a job, I would rent an apartment and move us there,” said Perdomo, who has struggled to find stable work for the past eight months to move them out of a migrant shelter on the Lower West Side. * Fox Chicago | One of Chicago Mayor Johnson’s top aides calls police ‘f—ing pigs’ in 2021 podcast: Kennedy Bartley allegedly made the comments during a 2021 podcast interview. She is currently Johnson’s Managing Deputy for External Relations, a position that was created for her back in May. […] The comments came as part of a conversation about the killing of Elijah McClain, a suburban Denver man, at the hands of police and paramedics. * Sun-Times | Victim recalls tire-cutting that led to charges against 2 Chicago cops: ‘They just started slashing’: Police officials sought felony charges against the officers, but they weren’t approved by prosecutors. “After a thorough review of the information presented to us by police, it was determined that the evidence was insufficient to meet our burden of proof to file felony charges,” according to a spokesperson for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. * ABC Chicago | Northwest Side residents ask city to remove homeless encampment from Gompers Park: ‘It’s not safe’: Members of the Restore Gompers Park Coalition delivered petitions to the alderperson’s office Tuesday morning, asking that the city begin moving them out of the park. They say those living there are part of the unhoused population and are not migrants or recent arrivals. “We want proper housing for these individuals. We’re not saying kick them out and put them on the street,” said Gail Fritz with the Restore Gompers Park Coalition. * Sun-Times | Transgender woman slain on West Side; family calls for hate crime investigation: Redd is the first trans woman killed in Chicago this year, though violence against trans women is often underreported. At least 14 transgender and gender-nonconforming people have been killed in Chicago since 2016, according to data compiled by the Sun-Times, and the majority of those cases remain unsolved. * Sun-Times | Hot mic still smoldering? Former judge caught insulting lawyer is facing state complaint: The complaint against former Associate Judge William Raines was filed in August by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, which accused him of violating its code of conduct. […] After Bonjean left the Zoom hearing, Raines began talking to others in the virtual courtroom, describing Bonjean’s demeanor during the proceedings as “entertaining.” “Did you see her going nuts? Glasses off, fingers through her hair, the phone’s going all over the place. It’s insane,” Raines said, according to the commission’s complaint filing. * Daily Herald | DuPage County Clerk asks for private attorney to represent her: The DuPage County state’s attorney’s office last week filed the lawsuit that claims Kaczmarek is breaking state law because she has refused to indicate from where in her budget a bill should be paid when the dedicated budget line item does not have enough money to cover a bill’s payment. Kaczmarek’s request for a private attorney comes days after DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin filed a motion requesting that a special state’s attorney be appointed to represent the clerk since his office cannot represent both her and the county in the legal dispute. * AP | Protections sought for prison workers in closing of aging Illinois prison: On Tuesday, 187 inmates remained at Stateville, AFSCME spokesperson Anders Lindall said. When plaintiffs in the case sought an injunction in July to shutter Stateville, AFSCME expected Corrections to oppose it, according to the complaint. It says that days before Wood’s ruling, AFSCME and the Department of Central Management Services, the state’s personnel agency, agreed that bargaining over the employee impact of Stateville’s shutdown was premature because Corrections’ plans were not finalized. * Naperville Sun | Changes in state legislation prompt Naperville Park District to consider ban on e-scooters, altered drone regulations: The modification is in response to a state measure that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law last month. The legislation — Senate Bill 1960 — created a definition for “low-speed electric scooter” in Illinois Vehicle Code and provides a regulatory framework for the operation of electric scooters by local governments that authorize their use by ordinance. * Shaw Local | Joliet, Lockport bridges top list of IDOT projects for Will County: Bridge repairs and replacements top the Illinois Department of Transportation’s ongoing and planned infrastructure projects in Will County over the next six years. Ten projects across the county represent a total investment of $118 million through the Rebuild Illinois capital program, according to a news release from IDOT. * WAND | Springfield Police Chief says disgraced Sgt. failed his oath: The chief said during the meeting, “That oath doesn’t end the day that you retire, that oath is something you take with you to your grave. That man failed this oath, that man embarrassed the profession of law enforcement. That man should be ashamed of his actions, his selfish actions that led to such a horrific crash.” Egan had just retired. Chief Scarlett also reiterated his commitment to a transparent internal investigation of his office. * SJ-R | Former Springfield Police sergeant pleads not guilty in aggravated DUI case: Egan, said Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser, was released from custody with conditions after the hearing. Egan cannot legally drive a vehicle or go to any bars. He must undergo a drug and alcohol assessment and cooperate with probation. Braud set an Oct. 3 preliminary hearing for Egan, who faces 1 to 12 years behind bars if convicted. The charge is probation eligible. * WAND | Springfield bridge to be renamed “Massey Memorial Bridge”: During Tuesday night”s Springfield City Council meeting the council approved a measure to commission a mural for the Jefferson Bridge, and work with IDOT to rename the bridge in her honor. Springfield Alderwoman Erin Conley spoke at the meeting and stated, “Sonya Massey’s mom is in the audience tonight and I just want to say this is a very small gesture in terms of everything, but we’re honored to have her name as part of our city. We will keep her in our hearts and in our thoughts.” * Rockford Register Star | Rockford has a $23 million budget surplus. Here’s how it hopes to spend the money: Rockford could use a $23 million 2023 budget surplus to give a one-time boost to its neighborhood road program, close TIF Districts that are in the red and complete several road resurfacing projects. Collections of income taxes and corporate replacement taxes that flowed into the city from the state of Illinois far exceeded expectations last year, Finance Director Carrie Hagerty said. The city also saved money because of vacancies in the Rockford Police Department. * WREX | Hard Rock Casino Rockford says things are going well less than two weeks after opening: “It’s more about just watching people feed into the building and see how they utilize the space and how they move around and navigate the space. We’ve identified some areas that are a little bit busier than we had thought they would be and probably should have bigger aisleways,” President, Geno Iafrate said. […] “Occupancy and visitation has just been through the roof. We actually twice on opening weekend, we exceeded capacity and had to stop letting people in the building, which I wish that wasn’t the case but at the same time that’s pretty exciting that you got more people than we can actually fit in the building,” Iafrate said. * WQAD | City of Rock Island approves purchase of drones for police department: The Rock Island Police Department will be receiving three drones after city council members voted to approve the purchase on Monday, Sept. 9. All three devices will cost just over $53,000. The city plans to use part of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the purchase. RIPD will now join numerous other Quad Cities agencies using the technology, including the Moline Police Department, East Moline Police Department, Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Bettendorf Police Department and the Rock Island Fire Department. * WAND | One year of progress at Scheels Sport Park: While the over 50 acre plot of dirt behind Scheels might not seem like much, a lot of work has happened in the lot since the groundbreaking occurred a year ago. Construction crews have laid more than two miles of underground piping, set up electrical wires for overhead lights, and built drainage systems for the outdoor fields. Soon crews will start building the foundation of the building and prepare to place the dome. A new General Manager was added to the Sports Park team today. Brandon Doherty will lead the facilities team for the rest of the construction, and when the building is completed. * PJ Star | Peoria’s Brat Summer? Pop star Charli XCX shares TikTok while rehearsing in Illinois: Iconic English singer and songwriter Charli XCX — whose album Brat was a pop culture phenomenon this summer — was apparently in Peoria, Illinois, this week while rehearsing for her upcoming tour with fellow pop star Troye Sivan. The two filmed a TikTok on the streets of Downtown Peoria, posted Monday, in which the duo walks down Main Street near the intersection of Perry Avenue. The words “sweat tour rehearsals lfg” are on screen. * WaPo | 42 state AGs endorse federal plan to add warning labels on social media: A coalition of over 40 state attorneys general urged Congress on Tuesday to place labels on social media platforms warning of their potential risks to children, rallying substantial bipartisan support behind a proposal championed by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy. In a June op-ed, Murthy called on federal lawmakers to pass legislation authorizing the placement of tobacco-style surgeon general’s labels “stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents.” Murthy said the move would help tackle concerns that social media is fueling real-world harms among kids and teens. * WaPo | Elon Musk’s misleading election claims reach millions and alarm election officials: A separate analysis found that 50 of Musk’s false or misleading claims about the U.S. election between Jan. 1 and July 31 were debunked by independent fact-checkers and still generated almost 1.2 billion views, according to a recent study from the Center for Countering Digital Hate. None displayed community notes, X’s term for user-generated fact checks that Musk has promised serve as an “immediate way to refute anything false” that is posted on the platform.
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Energy Storage Now!
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] If a major storm hits and the electricity goes out, are you prepared? Will your family be safe? What about your friends and neighbors? With climate change causing more massive storms, now is the time to ask yourself these questions. Fortunately, there is a solution. On a typical day, clean energy – like solar and wind installations – creates more energy than we can use that day. The solution? Store now so we can use it later. That stored energy can then be used in the event of a traditional power outage. With storage capacity, we can use energy when it’s needed most, and optimize the clean power produced by wind and solar — making power more affordable and reliable for Illinois. Make sure you’re ready, and make sure Illinois is ready. Click here to learn more! Paid for by Counterspark.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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