|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Campaign news (Updated)
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
Comments Off |
|
Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Waymo vehicles have landed in Chicago…
* Crain’s…
* Capitol News Illinois | Illinois legislators introduce bills to regulate pricing based on personal data: House Bill 4248, co-sponsored by Reps. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, and Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, would require corporations to disclose the use of algorithmic pricing and give consumers the chance to opt out. House Bill 4544, sponsored by Rep. Eva Dina Delgado, D-Chicago, would only require disclosure. Algorithmic pricing is a “modern tool for an age-old tactic,” to raise prices, said Erion Malasi, director of policy and research for Economic Security Illinois. * Crain’s | After weeks of tension, Pritzker now strikes upbeat tone on Bears tax talks: A committee hearing is scheduled Thursday in the Illinois House to discuss legislation that would allow so-called payment in lieu of taxes — known colloquially as a PILOT deal — that would enable the Bears to negotiate the amount of property taxes they would pay in Arlington Heights over a period of 30 years or more. A PILOT agreement is seen as crucial to the economics of the project in which the Bears would privately finance a stadium and a broader commercial, retail and residential development that could cost up to $5 billion. * WTTW | Chicago’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office Named Lead Partner in New Trade Fraud Task Force: In a speech Monday, Cody Matthew Herche, who leads the task force, said Chicago’s prosecutor’s office would be working with DOJ attorneys as well as agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency. That task force was created, according to Boutros’ office, to “aggressively pursue” enforcement actions against parties seeking to evade federal customs laws and smugglers who seek to import prohibited goods into the U.S. * Legal Newsline | Class action over Chicago distracted driving tickets wins new chance: The panel further rejected the argument that city code itself deprived DOAH of the right to adjudicate the distracted driving citations, finding “no reasonable reading of the amended complaint” to support the position. It also said the importance of the city code wasn’t “a live issue” when Meyerson issued the summary judgment ruling and further agreed the amended complaint isn’t an issue of new facts supporting an original legal theory but trying to advance claims by changing which law the city allegedly violated. * Crain’s | What’s behind the dramatic shakeup of WGN-TV’s newsroom: Other layoffs included sportscaster Chris Boden, general assignment reporter Judy Wang, reporter Bronagh Tumulty, and anchor Ray Cortopassi. Meteorologist Mike Janssen was also effectively let go when his contract was not renewed, according to local news reports. […] “There’s no question this is a cost-cutting move that does reflect the secular declines in local television news viewership, but the depth of these cuts has got to be related to the merger that’s pending with Tegna,” said Timothy Franklin, a former Chicago Tribune editor who is now chair of the local news department at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. “It presages a reorganization that could take place after these two companies combine.” * Sun-Times | Andrew Bird will make his CSO debut this fall: Andrew Bird, the multi-instrumentalist indie artist from the northern suburbs, will make his debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this fall, the company announced Tuesday. The performances this fall will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Bird’s acclaimed album “The Mysterious Production of Eggs.” The pair of performances will take place Nov. 13-14 at Downtown’s Symphony Center. It will mark Bid’s first time performing the album in its entirety alongside a full orchestra. * Block Club | City Should Better Promote Being World’s ‘Blues Capital,’ Buddy Guy And Other Advocates Say: Legendary Chicago blues artist Buddy Guy is calling on the city to build a monument worthy of its reputation as the “Blues Capitol of the World,” and the head of a local blues organization agrees the time has come. Buddy Guy’s brief speech before the City Council last week is already having an impact, with Axios reporting that Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) is working with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to have a proposal ready by Guy’s 90th birthday later this year. The award-winning artist was honored by the Council Wednesday. * MIT Technology Review | Inside Chicago’s surveillance panopticon: The department’s drone autonomously launches from the roof of the building and responds to about 10 to 12 service calls per day, at speeds up to 45 miles per hour. It arrives at crime scenes before patrol officers in nine out of every 10 cases. Next door to Village Hall is the Oak Brook Police Department’s real-time crime center, a large room with two video walls that integrates livestreams from the first-responder drone, handheld drones, traffic cameras, license plate readers, and about a thousand private security cameras. When I visited, the two DFR operators demonstrated how the machine can fly itself or be directed to locations from a destination entered on Google Maps. They sent it off to a nearby forest preserve and then directed it to return to the rooftop base, where it docks automatically, changes batteries, and charges. After the demo, one of the drone operators logged the flight, as required by state law. * Daily Herald | Ela Township residents question revised Lake Michigan pipeline route: Proposed refinements in the route to bring Lake Michigan water to Lake Zurich have raised concerns among residents on Eagle Drive in Ela Township. Rather than proceeding south on Diamond Lake Road as initially envisioned, the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency now suggests connecting the pipeline at Indian Creek Road via Eagle Drive to the west. Because Eagle Drive is a township road, going that route will require approval from the township board to use its right-of-way for construction. * Tribune | Sarah Jessica Parker will be Northwestern’s commencement speaker: Actress Sarah Jessica Parker will deliver the graduation commencement speech in June for Northwestern’s Class of 2026, according to an announcement Tuesday from the university. Parker will also receive an honorary doctorate of arts degree at the ceremony, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. June 14 at the United Center in Chicago. * WCIA | Champaign School Board accepts principal’s resignation after less than one year on the job: At this time it’s not known what’s behind Gardner’s decision to step down, and the Champaign Unit #4 School District has said in the past that they don’t comment on personnel issues. WCIA has put in a request for that information using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). * WGLT | Bloomington proposes major budget increase to $371M for 2027: Driven by expenses mandated by the federal and state governments, the City of Bloomington is proposing a $370.5 million overall budget for 2027. That represents an increase of 16.6% over what was originally approved for the previous fiscal year, and is up 6.8% over the revised spending plan for 2026. “We are really trying to put the focus of the budget to where the public is going to see it,” said City Manager Jeff Jurgens, who was joined by Finance Director Scott Rathbun in presenting a detailed preview of the budget proposal to the Bloomington City Council during Monday’s 80-minute meeting. * WGLT | Immigrants in McLean County seeking legal pathway face ‘a different kind of fear’: Immigrants with asylum cases are increasingly missing their court hearings, leading to an increase in deportation orders. In McLean County, community members with ongoing immigrations cases said news headlines and social media posts are fueling fear and distrust in the legal immigration system. Some asylees living in McLean County fear the legal pathway for remaining in the country is a trap for detention and deportation. * WICS | Springfield Fire Department fights fire at CWLP: The Springfield Fire Department has a fire contained that broke out at City Water, Light and Power’s (CWLP) Dallman Power station at 3100 Stevenson Drive this morning. The fire was isolated to decommissioned scrubber for retired Dallman Units 31 and 32 where a contractor was working this morning. There were no injuries among CWLP employees or the contractor. There was no impact on any equipment or facilities for Dallman Unit 4 by this fire.
|
|
Crain’s: Trump’s $61.5 billion hit to Illinois budget over coming decade (Updated)
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Crain’s took a look at the numbers…
* Along those same lines, this is from the governor’s State of the State/Budget address last week…
I told subscribers about that last week, but I haven’t seen much, if any coverage on his claim. Maybe I missed it. * The governor’s office included this walk-down in its address package…
Discuss. …Adding… DNC…
|
|
Illinois Credit Unions: Member-Owned And Member Focused
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Credit unions make a positive impact in ways that go far beyond traditional banking. Because they’re member-owned, not-for-profit, and community focused, their structure naturally drives decisions that put people first. Credit unions know their members as people, not account numbers. Credit union employees take time to:
• Offer tailored advice • Understand individual needs • Make decisions with empathy This relationship-driven approach creates a sense of belonging and trust. Scott Credit Union’s Ashleigh Deatherage states their “purpose is truly to make a positive impact on those we serve”. Watch her explain credit unions don’t “just look at them as another number”:
Learn more at https://betterforillinois.org/
Comments Off |
|
Pritzker trolls Indiana over its proposed Bears stadium tax hikes, says ‘broad agreement’ on legislation, but notes it’ll soon be up to legislators
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Gov. JB Pritzker did a little trolling of the notoriously Illinois-hating Indiana trolls today. When asked about the Bears at an unrelated press conference, this is some of what he said…
More on the “absolute cornucopia of new taxes” proposed in Indiana is here. As a commenter wrote yesterday: “Lighting tax money on fire to own the libs.” Yep. * Pritzker also sounded very positive today about his mega projects bill, which could be heard in committee Thursday morning. The Bears want to use that legislation to help build their new complex….
|
|
Catching up with the congressionals: We are in the upside down (Updated)
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Yesterday, we saw a guy who has dedicated his congressional career to raising as much money as humanly possible attacking a rival US Senate candidate over contributions that her national lt. governor’s association received. Then, we talked about the response, which blasted said congresscritter for some money he has raised, even though the candidate in question is being funded primarily by our billionaire governor. * But it can’t get too weird, I suppose. For instance, a cash-rich super PAC funded by crypto titans that’s helping former felon Jesse Jackson, Jr. slams lefty Robert Peters for selling out to corporate overlords… My brain. It hurts. …Adding… The Peters campaign has sent a take-down demand to all TV stations airing the spot. Click here. Peters campaign…
* Sen. Laura Fine was most definitely not interested in standing up to Mike Madigan during the #MeToo era or when he was being openly investigated by the feds. Yet, here’s her congressional campaign redboxing page…
That led to this AIPAC-funded TV ad…
* Excerpt from the Biss campaign’s response…
* Back to the crypto bros. Keep in mind the reports that cryptocurrency has been used by all sorts of nefarious types. NBC Chicago…
Click here for the crypto-backed ad attacking Rep. Ford. * More from Isabel… * Evanston Now | Dueling attack ads hit the airwaves: After this story was first published, the super PAC backing State Sen. Laura Fine’s campaign filed a report with the FEC disclosing its spending on the negative advertisements, totaling about $683,000. The super PAC had already spent over $1.9 million in pro-Fine ads to date. * WGN | Negative ads dominate Illinois primary races in final weeks: With just three weeks left before Primary Election Day in Illinois, the knives are out. Candidates and financial backers are on the airwaves with a slew of negative ads in several key races. Candidates running for Dick Durbin’s Senate seat are taking aim at each other in the homestretch, with accusations about where their funding comes from. There are also new attacks in the Republican race for Governor and the Cook County Assessor race. Political Editor Tahman Bradley sits down with multimedia journalist Brandon Pope and former State Representative Mike Zalewski to break down all the latest developments. * Sun-Times | Progressives pack Democratic primary race to replace U.S. Rep. Danny Davis: While all 13 Democratic primary candidates praised Davis’ legacy, they each told the Sun-Times their diverse district, winding from Englewood up the Loop and west to Austin and several suburbs, is due for a fresh voice in Washington to counter Trump administration policies and address the rising cost of living. Davis himself suggested that voice should come from another familiar West Side face, state Rep. La Shawn Ford, whom the congressman endorsed while announcing his retirement last summer. * Tribune | Lead prosecutor in ‘Broadview Six’ immigration protest case leaving for DC ahead of high-profile trial: The lead prosecutor in the politically charged ‘Broadview Six’ case accusing a group of Democrats and other protesters of conspiring to impede immigration agents at the Broadview ICE facility is leaving the office for a temporary detail in Washington D.C. […] In a motion filed Monday, the defendants said body-worn camera footage from Broadview police officers on the scene that day shows Abughazaleh move away from the agents’ vehicle she was allegedly impeding, grab a megaphone and tell the crowd “that’s private property back there — come back.” * Hyde Park Herald | Key candidates skip forum in crowded 2nd District race: While Ransby-Sporn said Miller was absent due to a scheduling conflict, state Sen. Willie Preston (D-16th) wasted little time offering his own explanation during his opening remarks. “Commissioner Miller is at a fundraiser right now, showing up for AIPAC and not for people in this room,” he said. “That’s the type of Congresswoman that she’s going to be if elected.” Miller’s campaign denied attending an AIPAC fundraiser, saying she was at two events “talking to Democratic primary voters,” one of which was at the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce in Hazel Crest. Preston did not provide evidence for this claim when asked by the Herald. * Daily Herald | Who’s going to the State of the Union and who’s boycotting it? Illinois lawmakers are split: A Dreamer who inspired legislation, the founder of a health care clinic that helps uninsured patients, and a suburban executive who successfully sued the Trump administration over tariffs are among the guests Democratic Illinois lawmakers will bring to the State of the Union address. Meanwhile, several legislators are boycotting the Tuesday speech, including U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who said her office “has been flooded with calls asking me to skip this speech and take a stand.”
|
|
It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Coalition for Small Business Loan Transparency…
* SB4062 from Sen. Cristina Castro…
* WAND…
* Rep. Kam Buckner filed HB5626 last week. Synopsis…
* SB4064 from Sen. Javier Cervantes…
* WIFR…
* Rep. Kimberly DuBuclet…
|
|
Big Tax-Exempt Hospitals Are Turning Patient Discounts Into Corporate Profits
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Across Illinois, large hospital systems and corporate PBMs are profiting from a program meant to help patients. The 340B program allows hospitals to buy medications at steep discounts, but those savings aren’t passed on to patients in need. Instead, large hospitals charge patients full price for 340B-discounted drugs, keep the difference, and share the cash with for-profit chain pharmacies and PBMs.
Comments Off |
|
Is a one percent budget increase actually a cut because of inflation? Pritzker’s office says it’s an increase
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the Partnership for College Completion on the governor’s proposed budget…
Emphasis is in the original. * I asked the governor’s office for a response…
Emphasis added. This is the second straight year that Pritzker has proposed a 1 percent higher ed increase. Thoughts?
|
|
340B Bill: NO Budget Appropriation Or Taxpayer Dollars Needed – Vote YES On HB 2371 SA 2
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Last week, Gov. JB Pritzker proposed a $56 billion general fund spending plan for fiscal year 2027, with discretionary spending increasing less than 0.5%. In his budget address, Gov. Pritzker noted the state has lost $8.4 billion due to federal funding cuts. Additional federal cuts under H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will further harm Illinois’ financial trajectory and, importantly, Illinois residents. Too many Illinoisans are unable to pay for needed care and medications. What’s ahead are more federal funding cuts that threaten our state’s healthcare system and imperil lives. Illinois faces: • A 19% decrease from 10-year federal baseline Medicaid spending—one of the highest percentage reductions in the U.S. Considering the uncertainty—and minimal new spending in Illinois—hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serving many low-income and uninsured patients urge House legislators to vote YES to protecting the federal 340B program in our state. House Bill 2371 SA 2 requires NO budget appropriation and NO taxpayer spending. For over three decades, hospitals and FQHCs have used 340B savings to help patients pay for medications and to invest in healthcare services for historically marginalized communities. 340B has played a significant role in many people’s lives. But drugmakers required to discount certain drug costs have been pulling back—placing restrictions that reduce savings and negatively affect individual lives. Stand with patients, hospitals and FQHCs: Protect 340B in Illinois. Learn more.
Comments Off |
|
Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Trump funding cuts and threats to Illinois reach $61.5B and counting. Crain’s…
- The strong-arm approach by Trump has meant regular threats to a range of federal funding streams, which add up to a minimum of $61.5 billion over the coming decade, according to a review by Crain’s. - While much of that funding has already either been restored or kept in place by lawsuits, economic and political experts called the presidential animosity of the past 13 months “unprecedented,” and warned that Illinois residents will be hit hard in the pocketbook for years to come. Sponsored by PhRMA: 340B hospitals charge big medicine markups. Illinois pays the price. 340B medicine markups are big business for hospitals. Under the federal 340B program, nonprofit hospitals can buy medicines for pennies, then charge huge markups – even on life-saving medicines. Big hospital systems pocket the program profits – passing the bill to Illinois patients, employers and taxpayers who are hit with higher medicine costs. The program’s lack of oversight has led to 340B becoming a profit engine for hospitals, PBMs, private equity firms and big chain pharmacies. It’s time for Congress to hold hospitals accountable and fix 340B. Read more. * At 10 am, Gov. Pritzker will announce that DMG MORI Federal Services, Inc. is expanding in Illinois with a new R&D facility and a workforce development program. Then at 1 pm, he’ll head to Pullman Park to announce plans to revitalize the Hotel Florence at the Pullman National Monument and State Historic Site. Click here to watch. * WTTW | Illinois Residents Oppose ICE Activity at Schools, Support Pay Raises for Educators: New Teachers Union Study Finds: IEA President Karl Goeke said this year’s report found three main themes — respondents see education as a top priority, reject the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations near schools and believe all students have a right to a public education. […] According to the report, 57% of respondents said they were worried about ICE detaining themselves, a child or school employees at their school in their local community, compared to 38% of respondents who said they were not worried. * IPM Newsroom | Illinois schools counted on federal grants to ease a shortage of school psychologists. After cancelation and a year of court battles, the future’s uncertain.: Last year, the Trump administration canceled the grant. Illinois and other states have filed a federal lawsuit to retain more than $2 million in funding. “The most recent information I heard was that the federal judge had said that the Department of Education had improperly stopped those funds,” said Lisa Becker. She’s a former school psychologist and now works as an administrator in the DeKalb School District, which is also part of the NIU grant. * Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker renews call to ban cellphones in schools across Illinois after effort fell short last year: “There’s real harm being done and it’s interfering with our ability to give children the most productive educational environment possible. It’s time to get the cellphones out of the classroom,” Pritzker said in his State of the State address to bipartisan applause. The tweaked version of the bill would require every Illinois public school district and charter school to adopt a “bell-to-bell” policy prohibiting K-12 students from using cellphones from the start of the school day until the final bell. The measure marks a shift from last year’s proposal, which only focused on banning phones during instructional time. Private schools would not be required to implement a phone ban under the bill. * Sun-Times | Former state representative recounts harrowing moments at gunpoint with Mexican cartel in Puerto Vallarta: Jonathan “Yoni” Pizer was on his way to a whale-watching trip when he was forced out of his car at gunpoint, he told the Chicago Sun-Times. His rental car was set ablaze and his party fled to safety as government forces killed a Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader nearby. * Sun-Times | $1,600 in fines for 4 city sticker violations? City must refund millions for ticket overcharges: Thousands of Chicago motorists ticketed and overcharged for more than a decade for parking, city sticker and other compliance violations could be in line for nearly $104 million in refunds at City Hall’s expense. Circuit Judge William Sullivan put cash-strapped Chicago firmly on the hook for $69.6 million in overcharges and $34 million in interest on more than a million tickets issued by the city between 2012 and 2022, after determining that the city violated state law by applying penalties that exceed a $250 cap on such fines. * ABC Chicago | How CTA, CPD working together to improve safety after feds threatened funding: According to CPD crime numbers reviewed by the ABC7 Chicago Data Team, violent crime on the CTA is up 4.3 percent in the last 12 months over the yearly average of the past three years, as overall crime citywide has fallen. […] “We do have officers riding trains. We have officers on buses. We’ve also increased our canine patrols, our threat and security patrols,” CTA Vice President of Security Kevin Ryan said. The I-Team obtained a copy of the CTA security enhancement plan sent to the FTA. It said the CTA would surge staffing of CPD across its system by 67 percent. * Nadig Newspapers | First challenger to Ald. Gardiner in 2027 race announces candidacy: A challenger to incumbent 45th Ward Alderman James Gardiner has announced their candidacy. S Gronkiewicz-Doran said that an alderperson’s top responsibility is handling service requests and making sure city services are delivered to residents. “You are the people’s first line of contact with city services and that’s a serious responsibility.” * WTTW | Heartland to Close Three Chicago Shelters for Unaccompanied Children, Lay Off About 145 Employees: Due to federal funding cuts, the nonprofit Heartland Human Care Services is closing three Chicago shelters that have been used to house unaccompanied minors coming to the U.S. Those cuts come from the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), which contracts with Heartland for their “unaccompanied alien children” program. At Heartland, immigrant children who have crossed the U.S. border receive residential and medical care, education and legal services before being connected with permanent homes. * WGN | WGN-TV lays off eight on-air reporters and anchors Monday in massive downsizing: Sean Lewis, a nearly two-decade veteran at WGN-TV who has anchored the weekend morning broadcast since 2010, got the bad news Monday afternoon. “This afternoon, I filed my last report for WGN on the noon show,” said Lewis, 50. “ A lot of really good people lost their jobs today, and it’s a shame.” A union steward at WGN, Lewis was sitting in on a meeting in that role where a colleague was being laid off. When that meeting was over, his bosses asked him to stay, adding his name to the list. By Monday evening, the final tally of layoffs reached eight. * WTTW | Community Violence Intervention Investments Have Helped Reverse Chicago’s Shooting, Homicide Trends: Report: GASC agencies — which include Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois — have collectively awarded $248 million in CVI funding since 2022, according to the city, serving more than 27,000 people over that time, a majority of whom are young Black men who live in communities with the highest levels of gun violence. The largest amounts of funding, which helps provide employment and mental health supports, went to priority areas with the highest need. * Crain’s | Uber is acquiring parking app SpotHero: Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but SpotHero will remain based in Chicago and operate as a standalone unit within Uber. It’s the latest twist in a 15-year journey for the parking app company that became one of the best-known Chicago startups. “There’s no better place for SpotHero than Uber,” said co-founder Mark Lawrence, who will continue to run the company. * Daily Herald | Preckwinkle, Reilly tussle over IT upgrade that delayed Cook County tax bills: Fallout over the county’s contract with Tyler Technologies was front and center during an exchange between the four-term county board president and 19-year Chicago alderman that took place before the Daily Herald Editorial Board. Reilly, who met recently with suburban school district superintendents and librarians, said implementation of the new property tax billing system has “wreaked havoc” on local taxing bodies. They have had to take out loans with interest while waiting to receive their share of property taxes from the county, he said. * Daily Southtown | Harvey City Council elects Ald. Shirley Drewenski as acting mayor: “Chris Clark was a very dear friend of mine,” Drewenski said. “It’s very difficult to accept this role because we were so close, and he should be standing here.” Drewenski will serve out the remainder of Clark’s term, which will end in spring 2027. She said she had not yet given thought to the question of appointing someone to fill her 1st Ward seat. * Daily Herald | Kane clerk candidates discuss election security: “We have plenty of security measures (for voting),” Pollock said. He says that with vote-by-mail, there is always at least one Republican and one Democratic election judge present when the ballots are received and processed, that there are security cameras, and oftentimes poll watchers are present. Rodgers said, in a candidate questionnaire, she was “secure” in her knowledge that elections are secure. * Aurora Beacon-News | Amy Johnson, Salvador Rodriguez vie for Democratic nomination for Kane County sheriff: * WCIA | Sangamon County will not adopt 6-month moratorium on data centers: Sangamon County Board member Dave Mendenhall said his concerns are focused on what the data center could mean for local agriculture. “What I do oppose is taking prime agricultural land out of production. And there are many, many other places that they could build the data centers,” Mendenhall said. Now, there is only one hurdle left for the project to clear: a final vote during the March 23 county board meeting. Mendenhall expects that vote will pass and the project will begin soon after. * 25News Now | Peoria Housing Authority CFO fired, CEO resigns following alleged ‘financial irregularities’: Although details about the alleged financial irregularities are sparse, board members said the severity of the matter required, “immediate termination” of the CFO. Due to the case being an active investigation, the PHA cannot provide any more information, including how long the alleged financial discrepancies have been happening, nor how many members of the nonprofit were implicated. Additionally, in what the board called an unrelated matter, Armeca Crawford, the PHA’s chief executive officer, resigned from her position. In her place, the board appointed Damon Duncan to take over as interim CEO. * WMBD | Doctors say multiple respiratory viruses circulating across Central Illinois: Physicians at Carle Health Methodist said they are seeing a steady stream of respiratory illnesses in Central Illinois, with several different viruses circulating at once. Dr. Ravi Kashyap, a physician at Carle Methodist, said influenza A and influenza B are among the most common viruses right now. Doctors are also seeing seasonal coronavirus strains, rhinovirus, enterovirus and RSV. * WGLT | ISU president recaps university response to first year of Trump’s 2nd term and ongoing new budgeting model: He said backing off on DEI rhetoric does not send a message that ISU does not value those principles. Based on what has happened at institutions that have incurred the “ire” of the administration, Tarhule said it’s important to consider the impact on students who benefit from Pell Grants and other federal support that could be cut if ISU spoke out too loudly. “You don’t want to be sticking to rhetoric that you know will put your students in jeopardy. There are many ways of maintaining your values without taking a bull by the horns and screaming about what it is you’re doing. Our first and most important responsibility is to our students,” said Tarhule. * WCIA | Springfield Housing Authority employees hold picket over contract dispute: The previous union contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3982 officially expired last month. Workers said they have met with SHA leadership five times since December, and have made little progress in reaching an agreement. Besides wages, the group also brought up 13 proposals on non-economic issues. AFSCME said SHA leadership has also refused to bargain with them on these concerns beyond saying “no.” * WCIA | Macon County calling for more Republican election judges ahead of March primary: Macon County Clerk Josh Tanner said that not enough people are signing up. He also said he has seen a decline in those registering for the last few years. Ahead of March 17, his goal is to have enough judges to have an even mix of each party. “So, there are always a lot of turnovers with election judges; some of them retire and decide they are not wanting to do it. Or, they move out of town or to a different location. So there is always a turnover, and we’re always recruiting new election judges,” Tanner said. * WaPo | Former ICE instructor says agency slashed training for new officers: Ryan Schwank, who resigned from his job at an ICE academy in Georgia last week, told congressional Democrats at a hearing that the agency eliminated 240 hours of “vital classes” from a mandatory 580-hour training program, including instruction about the legal boundaries for the use of force, how to safely handle firearms, and the proper way to detain and arrest immigrants. * AP | Tariffs paid by midsize US companies tripled last year, a JPMorganChase Institute study shows: The additional taxes have meant that companies that employ a combined 48 million people in the U.S. — the kinds of businesses that Trump had promised to revive — have had to find ways to absorb the new expense, by passing it along to customers in the form of higher prices, employing fewer workers or accepting lower profits. “That’s a big change in their cost of doing business,” said Chi Mac, business research director of the JPMorganChase Institute, which published the analysis Thursday. “We also see some indications that they may be shifting away from transacting with China and maybe toward some other regions in Asia.” * Gizmodo | AI Added ‘Basically Zero’ to US Economic Growth Last Year, Goldman Sachs Says: Briggs’ colleague, Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius, said in an interview with the Atlantic Council that AI investment spending has had “basically zero” contribution to the U.S. GDP growth in 2025. “We don’t actually view AI investment as strongly growth positive,” said Hatzius. “I think there’s a lot of misreporting, actually, of the impact AI investment had on U.S. GDP growth in 2025, and it’s much smaller than is often perceived.” Hatzius said one major reason is that much of the equipment powering AI is imported. While U.S. companies are spending billions, importing chips and hardware offsets those investments in GDP calculations. * NYT | The Looming Taiwan Chip Disaster That Silicon Valley Has Long Ignored: A confidential report commissioned in 2022 by the Semiconductor Industry Association for its members, which include the largest U.S. chip companies, said cutting the supply of chips from Taiwan would lead to the largest economic crisis since the Great Depression. U.S. economic output would plunge 11 percent, twice as much as the 2008 recession. The collapse would be even more severe for China, which would experience a 16 percent decline.
|
|
Good morning!
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * You can listen to the more radio-friendly “Slight Return” version, or check out the full psychedelic masterpiece below. If the anarchic crescendo beginning after 12:00 that fully kicks in at 13:04 doesn’t blow your mind, then nothing will. This is the highest of high art…. And at the same time I’m right here in your picture frame Have I said how much I love Black History Month? Because I do. This is an open thread.
|
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
Comments Off |
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
Comments Off |
|
Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
|
|
Live coverage
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
|
|
Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Brendan Reilly for Cook County President…
* STLPR | Illinois Republican Heidner wants to bring his business acumen to governor’s office: “When I looked at who was running, I saw zero path for any of the candidates, the other Republican challengers, to ever have a chance of beating JB Pritzker, so I said I needed to do this,” Heidner said on the latest Politically Speaking podcast. […]At the top of his priority list for the state is term limits, which would be a first-day conversation with state lawmakers, Heidner said. Pritzker is seeking a rare third term. Republican Jim Thompson, who was in office from 1977 to 1991, was the last governor to be elected to more than two terms. “We should have two terms for a limit for a governor,” Heidner said. “None of this would be this way if JB Pritzker wasn’t able to run for a third term.” * Crain’s | Tom Pritzker’s Epstein ties shine light on lifestyle — and a family rift:In their correspondence, Tom and Epstein make reference to other members of the clan, including Penny Pritzker, 66, the former Commerce Secretary. Neither Penny Pritzker nor her brother, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, responded to a request for comment on the relationship between Tom Pritzker and Epstein. Neither sibling appears to have any connections or communications with Epstein, based on the emails. * Capitol News Illinois | As Illinois increasingly becomes destination for abortion access, a new public-private partnership emerges: High demand is the catalyst for the new Prairie State Access Fund, the latest partnership between Illinois and providers to support access to reproductive care. The fund, managed by the Michael Reese Health Trust, will raise money to address specific, immediate needs to support the clinics and other organizations that provide abortion care in Illinois so they can continue their work. The fund is primarily meant to provide flexible funding to assist with the volume of out-of-state patients who aren’t covered by programs like Illinois Medicaid. * Press release | State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA) PAC Endorses Stephanie Kifowit for Illinois Comptroller: The campaign of Stephanie Kifowit for Illinois Comptroller proudly announces the endorsement of SUAAction, the Political Action Committee of the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA), for the March 17, 2026 Democratic Primary Election. In announcing its support, SUAAction emphasized the exceptional nature of this endorsement. While the organization has historically refrained from endorsing in primary elections, it cited Kifowit’s record and experience as uniquely aligned with the priorities of public employees and retirees. * Sun-Times | Frustrated Illinois congressional candidates call super PAC influence ‘buying a seat’:The 2nd District is especially hit hard by super PAC influence, with Fairshake, a pro-crypto PAC funded primarily by Trump megadonors and business partners Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, targeting state Sen. Robert Peters. Fairshake is spending at least $1 million to run anti-Peters ads. And it’s the third Trump-affiliated super PAC to play a role in the race. Andreessen is the founder and general partner of Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz — and a Trump adviser on tech and business policy — and he gave more than $4.7 million to advance the MAGA agenda in the 2023 and 2024 electoral cycle. Affordable Chicago Now!, which is AIPAC-affiliated, is spending money in support of Miller, while the Leading the Future PAC, funded by OpenAI stakeholders, is backing former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. in the race. * Progressive Promise is out with a new digital ad pushing Robert Peters… * Politico…
* More super PAC money is heading to 7th CD candidate Jason Friedman…
* Daily Herald | Quigley, challengers differ sharply on U.S. relations with Israel: Quigley, who is seeking his 10th term in Congress while also planning to run for Chicago mayor next year, was joined by opponents Matthew Conroy and Ellen Corley at the League of Women Voters forum Saturday in Barrington. Fellow Democrat Anthony Michael Tamez did not appear. Quigley said Israel is a critical ally in the Middle East, but also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. * Press release | U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Endorses Junaid Ahmed for Congress in Illinois’ 8th District: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders announced his endorsement of Progressive Congressional candidate Junaid Ahmed today, cementing national progressive support for his campaign to represent Illinois’ 8th Congressional District. * Press release | CAIR Action Midwest Endorses Morgan Coghill in IL-10: Morgan Coghill’s campaign for Congress today announced an endorsement from CAIR Action Midwest, a political arm of the Council on American Islamic Relations. The endorsement places a national spotlight on a grassroots campaign that has centered on human rights and working-class priorities from day one. CAIR Action cited Coghill’s consistent record of protecting Muslim communities and defending civil liberties in its endorsement of Coghill’s campaign. * WTTW | Excessive Force Allegations Against CPD Officers Rose 46% Since 2022: Data: CPD officers used the highest level of force against a member of the public — including a gunshot, chokehold or a baton strike to the head or neck — 84 times in 2024, more than double the number of times officers used the highest level of force in 2023, according to CPD data cited by the coalition. * WTTW | CPD Officer Accused of Violating Rights of Black Drivers During Downtown Traffic Stops Stripped of Police Powers: Officer Richard Rodriquez is the fifth member of the Near North (18th) Police District tactical team to be stripped of his badge and gun after the agency tasked with investigating misconduct by Chicago police officers identified a troubling pattern of undocumented and unprofessional traffic stops of Black Chicagoans. Rodriquez was identified by a database published by Inspector General Deborah Witzburg designed to identify “hot spots” of alleged misconduct as having the most complaints of any other officer beside Officer Joseph Vecchio, another member of the 18th District tactical team. * Block Club | Chicago Traffic Deaths Reach A 9-Year Low, But Funding Cuts Could Threaten Progress: The city recorded 100 traffic deaths — which includes people walking, biking or driving — last year, according to data from the Chicago Department of Transportation. That’s the lowest fatality total since 2016 and represents a 46 percent drop compared to 2021, a peak year for traffic deaths with 186 fatalities. […]CDOT’s budget for Vision Zero and Complete Streets comes from local, state and federal funding, according to the improvement program. But general-obligation bond funds, or long-term loans the city uses for public works projects, have been central to the city’s progress in reducing traffic deaths, said Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st), a member of the city’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety. * Sun-Times | Archdiocese has ‘no plan’ to reopen 6 Catholic schools despite families’ push: “When the schools are in trouble, the archdiocese is silent,” said Angel Garcia, whose child attends the school, at a news conference. “This falls on Cardinal Cupich.” Hours later, the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools said the decision was made “with heavy hearts after months of discussions,” but it maintained that enrollment was too low and deficits too high. * Sun-Times | Letter carrier union kicks off bargaining season with rally: ‘First-class service deserves first-class pay’: More than 100 workers with the National Association of Letter Carriers kicked off bargaining for their next contract Sunday with a rally, calling for fair wages and worker protections at the local branch’s Bronzeville headquarters. They were joined by Gov. JB Pritzker. […] “The postmaster general needs to do right by you and get you the contract you deserve,” Pritzker said before exiting to chants of “48.” “And we’re gonna have to yell it. … Every worker in the United States needs a better wage, so your fight is for them too.” * Tribune | WWE’s ‘Elimination Chamber’ is coming to the United Center — and wrestling fans have been waiting: Illinois has a rich history in professional wrestling — it witnessed one of the more memorable moments in pro wrestling in recent years when Chicago icon CM Punk made his return to the WWE during “Survivor Series” at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont in 2023. But “Elimination Chamber” will be a rare treat for Chicago fans, as it marks the first premium live event in the city since SummerSlam at the United Center in 1994. * Press release…
* Press release | Reps. Chuy Garcia, Delia Ramirez, and Assessor Fritz Kaegi Rally with Advocates Against Pay-to-Play Corruption in Assessor’s Race: U.S. Representatives Chuy Garcia and Delia Ramirez joined Assessor Fritz Kaegi, elected officials, and advocates on Monday morning to sound the alarm on pay-to-play donations in the Cook County Assessor’s race that would drive up property taxes for working class homeowners. “This race for Assessor is about whether the property tax system works for Cook County families or the wealthiest individuals and biggest corporations. Just look at who’s funding my opponent’s campaign. It’s the same property tax attorneys who get rich by rigging the rules. They help their corporate clients pay less, forcing everyone else to pay more. Cook County families deserve to know that the Assessor is fighting for them and no one else,” said Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi. * Crain’s | AbbVie investing $380M on two new plants in North Chicago, adding 300 employees: AbbVie is doubling down on its drug manufacturing expansion at its North Chicago campus by building two facilities to support production of neuroscience and obesity medications. The move is part of the pharmaceutical giant’s $100 billion commitment to add to domestic drug-making capability and R&D, under a voluntary agreement it signed with the Trump administration in January. * Daily Southtown | Records show Thornton Fractional District 215 previously investigated teachers charged in sexual assault: Records show Thornton Fractional High School District 215 began investigating a former teacher and wrestling coach more than a year before he was charged with sexual assault of high school students. Andre Richmond was charged Jan. 8 with criminal sexual assault and child pornography involving two high school students after being arrested by Lansing police. His twin brother, Aaron Richmond, who also taught and coached wrestling in the district, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse in December 2024, after being arrested by Glenwood police. * Pioneer Press | Niles referendum in March primary election asks about new term limits for mayor, trustees: The advisory referendum for Niles voters’ consideration in the March 17 election asks: “Shall the following term limits apply to all current and future elected officers in the Village of Niles, Cook County, Illinois? Prospectively, no person elected at the next Village election and all subsequent elections may serve more than five (5) full four (4)-year terms, or a maximum of twenty (20) years, in the same elected office.” The question ended up on the ballot after a resident approached Alpogianis about the issue. The mayor, who is currently in his second term after being reelected last year and is a former two-term village trustee, said he answered the resident’s questions and helped guide him on the process, including circulating a petition to help get the referendum on the ballot. * Aurora Beacon-News | Aurora committees make recommendations on public safety, housing and more: Increased public oversight of the police, guaranteed basic income and increased housing density in some areas of the city — those are just a few of the recommendations that are being made by Aurora Mayor John Laesch’s transition committees. The Public Transition Committees were formed last year to gather community-based feedback to shape the city’s priorities during the Laesch administration across topics such as finances, sustainability, housing, public safety and education. The committees’ full recommendations are set to be published later this week on the city’s website, but overviews were presented during a public forum held at the downtown branch of Waubonsee Community College on Saturday. * Capitol News Illinois | Former deputy in Sonya Massey killing serving prison sentence, but state officials won’t say where: A source close to the case said he has been moved out of state. “For safety and security purposes, the Department will not discuss details concerning Individual Grayson,” an IDOC spokesman said in an email Thursday. This could be for a number of reasons, including the high-profile nature of the crime, the fact that Grayson was a police officer, or that he is suffering from advanced forms of cancer and needs specialized care, one expert said. * STLPR | Failure to warn: How East St. Louis became a battleground against an international chemical giant: The East St. Louis lawsuits, which have been filed by people nationwide, have been folded into a Multidistrict Litigation, or MDL, which combines lawsuits against a common defendant into a single federal court. Almost all the paraquat cases are still pending. And unlike the lawsuits against Bayer’s herbicide Roundup, they have yet to lead to a bellwether trial — perhaps one reason that controversy around paraquat has yet to bubble into mainstream consciousness. For now, at least, America’s courthouses are the only places the Parkinson’s patients, or surviving family members who have lost someone to the disease, can push to obtain compensation for their pain and suffering. * BND | Why does East St. Louis have its own board of elections, and what does it cost?: The short answer as to why East St. Louis still runs its own elections despite its population plummet? The board can only be dissolved by ballot proposition, and although a referendum has appeared on East St. Louis ballots at least twice, it hasn’t passed. The East St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners has been the subject of some controversy. Opponents of the board say closing it could save East St. Louis hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Other concerns about the board have included alleged voter fraud and questions about the accuracy of voter registration rolls in the city. * WCIA | Nearly 7K show up to see an Olympian, support the Illini at gymnastics meet vs. UCLA: The Illini haven’t competed in State Farm Center since 2018, when they hosted the Big Ten Championships. Usually, they’re in Huff Hall, but when UCLA and two-time Olympian Jordan Chiles came into town, they knew they needed more space. […] “Like I told the team at the end, I said, ‘There’s so much orange here. There’s orange all over in the stands. These are people that came to watch us, you know, and obviously Jordan,’” [Illinois Women’s Gymnastics Head Coach Josh Nilson] said. “But, I expect to see some blue in the stands. I saw a lot more orange, so it was just a lot of fun. The girls work hard, and for them to actually be here and be able to feel that is incredible.” * Penn Capital-Star | Louisiana mifepristone lawsuit could hinder telehealth abortion nationwide: Guttmacher Institute Principal Federal Policy Adviser Anna Bernstein said in a statement Friday that reinstating the in-person dispensation requirement for mifepristone would hinder abortion access. “If access to telehealth and mifepristone by mail is curtailed, more patients would be pushed toward in-clinic care, straining provider capacity and increasing wait times in an already chaotic landscape,” she said. “Given that travel is out of reach for many people, the result would likely be increased delays and more people unable to get the abortion care they need and deserve.” * Politico | Dem AGs plot to thwart Trump election interference: Trump and his allies’ rhetoric is the type of “red-alarm fire that people need to take very seriously,” said Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, who leads the Democratic Attorneys General Association’s election protection working group. “He will try anything,” Brown said, so “we have to just sort of think creatively about: If you were the president and you were trying to invalidate an election or undermine an election, what are the oddball, ludicrous, unconstitutional theories that you might advance?” * NYT | He Was a Climate Activist. One Day, the F.B.I. Came Knocking: Climate activists can prove to be especially vulnerable, Dr. Fisher said, because they often equate environmental justice with economic and racial justice, joining protests against other Trump-era actions, such as mass deportations. The Trump administration, in turn, will “try to pick off what they see as the lowest hanging fruit of activists,” she said. The Department of Justice said in a statement that it would “continue to hold accountable any individual that crosses the red line between peaceful First Amendment activity and obstructing, impeding or attacking federal law enforcement agents. No matter the cause, no one is above the law.”
|
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Afternoon update
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
Comments Off |
|
Pritzker-backed Super PAC goes negative on Krishnamoorthi: ‘Sold us out’ (Updated)
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * As we’ve already discussed today, Raja Krishnamoorthi is up with a negative TV ad about Juliana Stratton in the US Senate race. Press release from the group that has so far disclosed $5 million in contributions from Gov. JB Pritzker…
* The ad…
Rate it. …Adding… Raja for Illinois…
|
|
It’s just a bill
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* HB5024, filed by House Speaker Chris Welch, has been assigned to the Executive committee. Michael McLean…
* Sen. Graciela Guzmán…
* Home for Good…
* WGEM…
* Rep. Rick Ryan…
|
|
Maybe these tech bros are onto something
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * This recent story in Fortune magazine started me thinking about the governor’s proposals to ban mobile phones in school classrooms and the “Children’s Social Media Safety Act”…
* From the governor’s one-pager on the classroom phone ban…
* And this is from the governor’s summary of the Children’s Social Media Safety Act (HB5511/SB3977)…
As we’ve discussed, he’s also proposing a $200 million “fee” on social media companies that’s advertised as going to education. Anyway, your thoughts?
|
|
Rate some very different ads
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Ad 1…
The “study” referred to in the ad was widely panned…
And an independent study had completely different results…
* Ad 2…
The police chief in question complained loudly that he couldn’t keep someone behind bars for a misdemeanor theft charge. Also, “JB and BJ’s killing spree.” Whew. * Let’s move on to Holly Kim’s new digital ad. Press release…
* The ad…
|
|
Raja unloads on Stratton with his first negative TV ad
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Press release…
* The spot…
* Back to Raja’s press release…
* The Juliana campaign fired back with a press release responding to Raja’s negative ad. But if it ain’t on TV, etc., nobody’s gonna know about it…
* More…
* Press release | International Association of Machinist and Aerospace workers endorses Juliana Stratton for US Senate: Today, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) endorsed Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton for United States Senate. IAM represents more than 600,000 members across the country. Juliana has been a champion for workers across her career, and has worked hand and hand with organized labor to make Illinois the best state to work. “I’m deeply honored to be endorsed by the Machinists’ Union. For generations, IAM members have shown that when working people stand shoulder to shoulder, they create real change,” said Juliana Stratton. “We share a commitment to protecting workers’ rights, fighting for fair wages, and ensuring safe, dignified working conditions. Together, we’ll build an economy that respects the value of every worker and proves that our greatest strength has always been our solidarity.”
|
|
Indiana’s Bears offer ‘An absolute cornucopia of new taxes’ (Updated)
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Text from a prominent subscriber over the weekend…
Whew. Click here to see what the subscriber missed, if anything. * Crain’s Saturday…
* Fox 32…
* Tribune…
…Adding… Oof…
The poll is here. They didn’t ask about the Bears stadium for some reason. Also, the Indiana Capital Chronicle has a couple of good stories on this Bears topic, plus this tidbit…
|
|
Keep Insurance Affordable
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] The Illinois General Assembly is considering legislation (HB 3799, SA 2 &3) that could make homeowners insurance unaffordable for many Illinoisans. The proposal would destabilize a healthy, competitive market, creating a regulatory framework that is more extreme than what exists in any other state. This will increase premiums and reduce competition. Our robust insurance market has kept homeowners’ rates middle-of-the-pack nationally, even though Illinois has more hail damage claims than any other state except Texas. To protect affordability and consumer choice, lawmakers should VOTE NO. For more information, visit www.KeepInsuranceAffordable.org
Comments Off |
|
About that $200 million for education
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * My weekly syndicated newspaper column…
|
|
HB 3799 Raises Premiums And Destabilizes A Stable Insurance Market
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Illinois’ competitive system protects consumers and keeps carriers investing here—let’s not break what works. Independent research shows slow, uncertain rate reviews push insurers out and costs up. HB 3799 was already defeated in Veto Session—keep it that way. Vote NO. Protect affordability. Vote NO on HB 3799.
Comments Off |
|
Biss launches TV ad against Fine after AIPAC attack
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Super PAC attacks Biss …
* Biss goes after Sen. Laura Fine in his own ad. Press release…
* Biss press release…
Thoughts?
|
|
RETAIL: Strengthening Communities Across Illinois
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] At Internode Greenery & Home, owner Michele Arana-Bianchi is helping historic downtown Joliet bloom. Filled with lush, easy-care plants, artisan home goods, and hands-on workshops, the shop is a colorful hub for connections and community. When visitors stop in, they can grow something beautiful. Retail generates $7.3 billion in income and sales tax revenue each year in Illinois. These funds support public safety, infrastructure, education, and other important programs we all rely on every day. In fact, retail is the second largest revenue generator for the State of Illinois and the largest revenue generator for local governments. Policies that support small businesses help communities thrive as retailers like Michelle are better equipped to meet local needs. We Are Retail and IRMA are showcasing the retailers who make Illinois work.
Comments Off |
|
Isabel’s morning briefing
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Subscribers know more. ICYMI: Meta begins $65 million election pick to advance AI agenda. New York Times…
- In Illinois, Making Our Tomorrow is set to begin spending in at least four State House races, according to a representative for the group. The money will go toward positive digital ads and direct mail sent to voters. - Meta last year struck a deal in Illinois to buy power from a nuclear power plant. The state’s Democratic-run legislature has proposed several A.I. regulations, some of which have been passed and signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker. * Related stories… Sponsored by PhRMA: 340B hospitals charge big medicine markups. Illinois pays the price. 340B medicine markups are big business for hospitals. Under the federal 340B program, nonprofit hospitals can buy medicines for pennies, then charge huge markups – even on life-saving medicines. Big hospital systems pocket the program profits – passing the bill to Illinois patients, employers and taxpayers who are hit with higher medicine costs. The program’s lack of oversight has led to 340B becoming a profit engine for hospitals, PBMs, private equity firms and big chain pharmacies. It’s time for Congress to hold hospitals accountable and fix 340B. Read more. * Illinois Answers Project | Edwardsville Officials Assured Residents on Facebook The City Had ‘No Formal Proposal’ For a Data Center — But City Emails Tell a Fuller Story: In a post on the city’s official Facebook page on Feb. 10, it noted that while data centers were a hot topic in the Metro East and that the city had gotten “an inquiry” on the process to build such a center in town, it had received “no formal proposal.” But that post does not tell the full story, according to dozens of emails reviewed by Illinois Answers Project between top Edwardsville city officials and a firm looking to develop massive data centers in the region. For almost a year, the developer, Cloverleaf Infrastructure, has discussed in detail a proposal and site selection in Edwardsville with city and county officials, according to the nearly two dozen emails reviewed by Illinois Answers. * WBEZ | Pritzker budget proposal leaves funding flat for the arts in Illinois in 2026-2027: In 2025, the state made a big increase in funding for the arts, growing the budget from $15.5 million to $25.5 million annually. Still, the Arts Alliance says the state has not supported the arts the way it did two decades ago. “We’re grateful to not see any cuts in a tough budget year, but we’re not where we need to be in terms of per capita funding for arts and culture,” said Claire Rice, executive director of Arts Alliance Illinois. “We really want to see that number higher, particularly since arts funding is such a small fraction of the total budget. Even modest increases in the grand scheme of the budget means a lot to our creative community.” * Sun-Times | State Sen. Emil Jones III survived federal charges, but now faces challengers in March primary: “Senator Jones has a strong political apparatus and has demonstrated time and again he’s more than capable of running a good campaign that delivers his track record and message to the voters of his district. We’re keeping a close eye on that race,” said a spokesman for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, who hasn’t formally endorsed Jones. * Press release | Dabrowski releases new ads promising to end SAFE-T, sanctuary laws: oday, Ted Dabrowski, conservative candidate for governor, released new ads that will air on television, digital & social media platforms and radio. The spots hold the tandem of J.B. Pritzker & Brandon Johnson — and they are a tandem — accountable for both their anti-law-enforcement rhetoric and their shared, dismal public safety record. In addition to standing with the victims and their families in the tragic and shocking cases referenced, Dabrowski is aligned with police and state’s attorneys statewide and even the former Democrat Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court who warned of, and since documented, the devastation wrought by JB’s purge law and BJ’s support of defunding police. * The Hill | Pritzker tells Trump to ‘cut the check’ after tariffs ruling: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) on Thursday called on President Trump to “cut the check” and issue refunds to American taxpayers after the Supreme Court struck down a cornerstone of his economic agenda, tariffs. “The Supreme Court just confirmed what we already know. Trump’s tariffs are illegal. He did it without the support of Congress or the voters, and you paid the price,” Pritzker said in a short video posted on the social platform X. He claimed Trump “illegally took $1,700 from every American family,” a figure that falls within the range cited in Yale Budget Lab research from March of last year, which projected an average household loss of between $1,600 and $2,000 due to the tariffs. * Sun-Times | Business license fees increased this year, some by as high as 400%: For example, fees for two-year regulated business licenses jumped from $250 to $1,000 on Jan. 1. The new fees also apply to license renewals. On Feb. 1, the annual license fee for a charter/sightseeing vehicle increased to $1,000 from $500. Some advocates contend higher business license fees are yet another burden for small businesses facing economic headwinds, including inflation, tariffs, and higher costs for health care and labor. Weaker consumer demand and raids by federal immigration agents last fall have also hurt many small businesses in Chicago. * WTTW | Chicago Police Department’s Compliance With Consent Decree ‘Too Slow’: Federal Judge: CPD has fully complied with 22% of the consent decree’s requirements, according to the most recent report from the independent monitoring team charged with keeping track of the progress of reform. The binding court order will mark its seventh anniversary on March 1. Pallmeyer’s statements represent the first time since December 2024 that she has expressed concerns about the pace of reforms. * Fox Chicago | Chicago Park District pitches $630 million plan for a post-Bears Soldier Field: Sources say the money breaks down to $130 million in direct stadium renovations, including a new sound system and new dressing rooms, and half a billion in surrounding infrastructure to tackle traffic management and parking. Park District officials say a chunk of the cost could be covered by the Bears — who will owe nearly $90 million if they break their lease with the Park District before 2033. Park District officials are pitching state lawmakers on a funding package that would include money from the state’s road fund — paid for by motor fuel taxes — to help with the infrastructure upgrades. * Sun-Times | Chicago clergy kick off funeral services with tribute to Rev. Jesse Jackson: Jackson’s wife, Jacqueline Jackson, and children sat in the front row during the forum while members of the community filled almost every seat in Rainbow PUSH’s South Side auditorium. Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain said the best way to honor Jackson was to continue to “keep hope alive,” the signature rallying cry of the late reverend. “Dr. King gave us a dream and he spoke of a dream,” said Bates-Chamberlain, executive director of Live Free Illinois. “The Rev. Jackson spoke of hope.” * John Owen’s | The Election of Harold Washington, Forty-Three Years Later: Long before the result was inevitable, the campaign was predicting victory and was considering what comes next. What struck me was how he frames the transition not just in managerial terms but in almost philosophical ones. The document breaks objectives into “political, administrative and spiritual” categories. Political and administrative make sense. But spiritual? That’s not campaign jargon. That’s movement language. * WTTW | Birders Capture Image of ‘Odd’ Duck and Accidentally Make a Key Scientific Discovery: The curious cluster of non-native swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) at River Park, where the North Branch and North Shore Channel converge, happens to be a focus area of study for Loyola professor Reuben Keller, who specializes in aquatic invasive species. One of Keller’s graduate students, Tava Oosterbaan, had recently wrapped up a study looking at the presence of microplastics in the crayfish. While it had already been established that fish in the river were eating the crustaceans, it was pure speculation birds were doing so as well. * Daily Herald | Indoor pools, a new police station and roads: What funding questions are on the ballot for suburban voters?: Prospect Heights is asking voters to borrow $21.5 million to provide funding for road and bridge maintenance at the same level of the past 15 years. As the debt from the 2010 referendum for this purpose is paid off in December, the new funding would kick in to continue the maintenance for another 20 years, City Administrator Peter Falcone said. * Naperville Sun | Naperville D203 to offer teacher retirement incentives as $12.4M deficit looms: A memorandum of agreement between the district and its teachers union, Naperville Unit Education Association, approved by the board with a 5-1 vote Tuesday, is a means through which the district can begin to close a projected $12.4 million budget deficit. As part of the agreement, eligible employees can agree to an irrevocable intent to retire this year by March 6 and receive full retirement benefits with the Teachers’ Retirement System. Employees who previously informed the district of their intention to retire at the end of the 2026-27 school year or later are also allowed to update their terms so they may retire this year. * Daily Southtown | Chicago Heights-based employment training program gets state funding boost: Mandela and dozens of her colleagues enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship program at Bethel Family Resource Center in Chicago Heights. They had 25 different trades to choose from in the program, including instruction in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electric, plumbing, carpentry, labor and sheet metal work. After their completed training, they receive help applying to unions that specialize in their chosen fields. The 13-week Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which has been going on at Bethel since 2022, offers candidates a program that is tuition-free while paying a stipend and offering other support services. Instructors also teach about employability, practicing for interviews and ways to “make yourself more sellable to people,” Mandela explained. They also become certified in CPR and learn about sexual harassment prevention. * Daily Southtown | Respond Now pantry reopens in Chicago Heights, now faces SNAP changes: The building has a larger food pantry space, a new conference room, nicer bathrooms and is overall more warm and comfortable, Wolf said. Wolf said he expects several other projects to be completed in the next few months, such as landscaping, self-service food pantry stations, extended food pantry hours and a renovated clothing room, where people can donate clothes for families in need. * Daily Herald | ‘Everyone deserves a cake for their birthday’: Grayslake teen baker donates creations to food pantry: The self-taught baker pledged to donate 26 cake kits each month to the food pantry this year. Next year, she hopes to increase that number to 27. The idea came to her last fall after the federal government shutdown resulted in the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that provides food assistance to low-income families. * WICS | Sangamon County board members to issue moratorium on data center vote: County board members Marc Ayers and David Mendenhall are filing a moratorium–or a 180 day pause– on the data center. Marc Ayers said a moratorium doesn’t halt the project completely–but gives county leaders time to evaluate infrastructure, environmental impacts, and community input before moving forward. * WGLT | ISU trustees approve 5% tuition increase for new students this fall: “If we actually were covering the entire cost next year of our expenses, the tuition increase would be even greater than 5%,” said Nelson. He said the general inflation rate on many expenses, plus an increased cost from a 3% pay raise for workers, means an $8.6 million jump in the cost to run the institution. The tuition hike, he said, will generate revenue to cover less than a third of that increase because it applies only to new incoming students and graduate students. * WCIA | Sonya Massey’s father backs ballot measure to hold officials accountable: After the 2024 fatal shooting of his daughter, Sonya Massey, James Wilburn is stepping into local politics to support a candidate he said is championing voters’ voices in Sangamon County. Wilburn has endorsed Sam Cahnman, a candidate running for re-election for his District 18 seat in the Sangamon County Board. Cahnman is pushing to place a binding referendum on the November ballot. If approved, the measure would allow voters to remove local leaders from office. The county board member will need to secure 5,000 signatures to have the referendum on the ballot. * WICS | County voters given say in Budget deficit solution: Champaign County leaders are facing a nearly $2 million deficit in the general fund and are turning to voters for direction on how to close the gap. “Do they want us to reduce staff? Do they want us to reduce the amount of county services that are available to the public? Or would they like us to look at other options?” said Emily Rodriguez, co-chair of the Champaign County Board. * 25News Now | Peoria Fire Chief: Drought conditions brought on more brush fires than usual for winter: Peoria County is experiencing a drought, which is leading to an increase in brush fires for the time of year. Since December, Peoria County has been experiencing a severe drought, as classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Peoria Fire Chief Shawn Sollberger said it has caused more brush fires than they are used to tackling at this time of the year. “We’ve had 21 incidents,” he said. “That is significantly higher than what we’ve experienced in years past.” * The Southern | FBI tip leads to Carterville school sex abuse probe: “This matter remains an active and ongoing investigation,” the sheriff’s office said in a release. “All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.” No charges have been filed at this time, and authorities have not released the employee’s name. * WCIA | Bands rally to save Sangamon Co. venue that gave them a stage after fire: A fire at the Curve Inn bar in Southern View, outside of Springfield, started around 9 a.m. Part of the roof collapsed, and the beer garden was covered in flames. No one was hurt but firefighters don’t know what started it yet. * WAND | Over 25 women-owned businesses to be featured in Springfield vendor fair: The fair will also feature five non-profit organizations empowering women, girls and their families in the area. The nonprofits include the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery, Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault, Springfield Urban League, and Wooden It Be Lovely. * The Guardian | DoJ cases against protesters keep collapsing as officers’ lies are exposed in court: ICE director Todd Lyons said ICE and the DoJ had opened an investigation into the case after videos revealed “sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements”, marking a rare acknowledgement of possible wrongdoing by DHS officials. “It is very unusual for the government to move to dismiss its own case with prejudice,” Frederick Goetz, a lawyer for one of the men, said in an interview. He praised the government for launching investigations: “If you make false statements to a federal agent, that is a crime.” * AP | TSA says PreCheck still operational after previous announcement of suspension during funding fight: “As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly,” the agency said. It was not immediately clear whether Global Entry, another airport service, would be affected. PreCheck and Global Entry are designed to help speed registered travelers through security lines, and suspensions would likely cause headaches and delays. * Sun-Times | Congress passed Trump’s sweeping tax bill. Here’s how it’ll affect your returns: The child tax credit was increased for 2025 by $200, making the credit $2,200 per qualifying child for parents or guardians with an annual income of less than $200,000, or $400,000 if filing jointly. And the value of the credit adjusts for inflation in subsequent years. But now the child and taxpayer — or couple, if filing jointly — must have a Social Security number to claim the credit. The requirement would make more than 4.5 million children in the U.S. ineligible, the vast majority of whom are citizens, because one or both of their parents lack a Social Security number, according to the National Immigration Forum. * TIME | Pope Leo Will Spend July 4 Visiting Island Known For Migrant Crossings:The Vatican announced this week that the first American leader of the Catholic Church will visit Lampedusa, a small Italian island that has for years served as a gateway for migrants and refugees traveling to Europe from Africa and the Middle East. The island is a stop on one of the deadliest migration routes in the world, and migrants who arrive there have often made a perilous journey across the sea. * AP | The U.S beats Canada 2-1 in overtime to win its first men’s hockey championship at the Olympics since 1980:
|
|
Good morning!
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller I’d rather be a blind girl I genuinely love Black History Month, even if it’s only 28 days. Anyway, this is an open thread.
|
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition and some campaign stuff
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
Comments Off |
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
Comments Off |
|
Selected press releases (Live updates)
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
|
|
Live coverage
Monday, Feb 23, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here and/or here to follow breaking news on the website formally known as Twitter. Our Bluesky feed…
|
| « NEWER POSTS | PREVIOUS POSTS » |
