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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Sun-Times | U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski could be called to testify in Madigan corruption trial: Prosecutors have previously said they plan to call members of Pritzker’s staff to show that Madigan “routinely sought to make recommendations to the governor and his administration concerning appointments” to state boards. One staffer is expected to testify that, after Pritzker took office, he had weekly meetings with Madigan, in which Madigan would take out a list of recommended board appointments and “methodically” work his way through the list. “Certain individuals were not hired despite Madigan’s recommendation for a variety of reasons, including … their dubious backgrounds; others who were recommended by Madigan were hired, but at times someone else had also recommended such individuals,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
* ABC Chicago | Former chief of staff takes stand in ex-Speaker Mike Madigan trial: Jessica Basham worked for the speaker from January 2003 - August 2021. As an analyst for the research and appropriations unit, Basham prepared memos and other documents detailing personnel recommendations, appointments to boards and commissions to Gov. JB Pritzker’s administrations and others. * Daily Herald | McLaughlin retains 52nd District House seat by 47 votes over challenger Peterson: Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin of Barrington Hills has retained his 52nd District seat by a 47-vote margin, according to results certified Monday by the Illinois State Board of Elections. While Democratic challenger Maria Peterson of North Barrington has until Dec. 9 to file for a discovery recount, McLaughlin said he’s received a congratulatory voicemail from her. * Capitol News Illinois | How RFK Jr.’s health proposals could affect Illinois: Another of Kennedy’s priorities is establishing healthy diets to combat obesity and chronic diseases. He has called for more regulation of food ingredients in a pledge to crack down on ultra-processed foods and ingredients linked to health problems. “Given the current nominee’s interest, it’s likely something like this could be on the docket on the federal level,” University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health Senior Associate Dean and Professor Jamie Chriqui told Capitol News Illinois. “Usually what we see is it gets tested first at the state and local level before it becomes a federal push, unless there is a champion at the federal level who is interested in making changes.” * Tribune | Embattled CPS CEO Pedro Martinez gets buyout offer from law firm tied to Board of Education amid union and mayoral tensions: An attorney representing the Chicago Board of Education offered to buy out Pedro Martinez, the embattled chief of Chicago Public Schools, according to sources close to the conversations. The offer, made over the phone earlier this week, came after Martinez retained attorney William J. Quinlan to represent him in an ongoing power struggle with Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union and the district. * Hyde Park Herald | For Chicago therapists, offering mental health care services in-network doesn’t always pay: According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Illinois ranks 35th among U.S. states and territories at meeting its residents’ mental health care needs, with only about 21% of needs being met. Jason Best, a mental health professional who runs Best Therapies, which is one of the largest practices in Chicago with a Hyde Park branch at 5113 S. Harper Ave., told the Herald that’s not because of a shortage of practicing therapists in Illinois, a claim advanced by health insurance companies. * Sun-Times | McCormick Place manager took kickbacks from snowplow firm that racked up bogus charges, feds say: Charges unsealed Wednesday allege McCormick Place operations manager Dominick Gironda, 54, and contractor James Sansone, 38, arranged for other contractors to overcharge for snow removal, with Gironda signing off on the bogus invoices and Sansone serving as an intermediary for kickbacks from the plowing companies. * Sun-Times | Ex-prosecutor charged with mishandling high-profile murder case had son wipe phone after being fired: Joseph Trutenko recalled the exchange Tuesday during the last day of testimony in his father’s trial on charges tied to the troubled prosecution of Jackie Wilson, whose case was integral in revealing systemic torture within the Chicago Police Department. Jackie Wilson and his brother, Andrew Wilson, were convicted in the 1982 murder of Chicago police officers Richard O’Brien and William Fahey, but they had their convictions overturned based on allegations of torture by detectives working under the notorious Cmdr. Jon Burge. The pair were later convicted again, and Andrew Wilson died in prison in 2007. * Crain’s | Chicago cannabis giant shuts down Michigan grow operation as workers unionize, prices slump: Chicago-based PharmaCann told employees Monday it would shutter its 207,000-square-foot LivWell Michigan cultivation site in Warren, laying off at least 170. […] “They told us they just can’t be competitive in Michigan …” Lince said. “We knew they were having financial troubles. But this doesn’t have anything to do with us organizing; we didn’t even have a contract yet.” * WBEZ | Property taxes in Chicago’s south suburbs soar: The median increase in property bills was 20%, but in the majority Black southern suburbs, bills went up by 30% or more. This left some residents paying more than homeowners in northern suburbs whose homes are valued higher. Reset learns about the factors leading to the increase and what could be done to lower these bills * Daily Herald | Wheeling’s proposed budget includes funds to finish flood-prevention project: Wheeling’s proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year includes cash for an already-underway flood-prevention project in the South Dunhurst neighborhood and erosion prevention in Buffalo Creek, among other efforts. The estimated $116.5 million spending plan is about $6 million greater than the $110.5 million budget for the current fiscal year, which ends Dec. 31. That’s a roughly 5% increase. * Tribune | Evanston’s Central Street added 18 businesses, preps for holiday shopping: Holiday shoppers will see many new facades in Evanston’s Central Street Business district, an eclectic mix of local businesses stocked with seasonal items. According to a nonprofit group that manages the area, the business corridor, which runs east and west of the intersection of Central Street and Green Bay Road, saw 18 storefronts open in 2024. According to Central Street Evanston’s Community Director Angela Shaffer, approximately 90% of businesses between the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, formerly the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, and the Evanston Arts Center on Central Street are independently owned. Shaffer said many of those businesses’ owners live in Evanston. * Capitol CIty Now | Milhiser seeks Illinois Supreme Court review to keep Grayson detained: Milhiser has filed a petition for leave with the Illinois Supreme Court, asking it to review a November appellate court ruling that ordered a pretrial release hearing for Grayson. The appellate court found the circuit court’s decision to detain Grayson was improper. Grayson’s pretrial release hearing was originally scheduled for Friday, but the appellate court issued a 35-day delay Tuesday providing time for the state’s attorney to pursue a further stay of the mandate directly from the Supreme Court. The hearing is now set for Jan. 2. * NPR Illinois | Illinois Product Holiday Market returns to downtown Springfield: The Illinois Department of Agriculture has announced the Illinois Product Holiday Market will be held on December 6, 7 and 8 at the “Y Block,” located north of the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield. The market features a wide array of Illinois products. “The Illinois Product Holiday Market gives local entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their goods and helps them grow their business” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello. “This initiative not only helps small businesses thrive but also allows shoppers a way to support local agri-businesses, fostering a stronger, more sustainable community.” * WCIA | Former DACC president’s wife asks city council to investigate mayor amid ongoing dispute: The controversy between Danville Community College President Stephen Nacco and Mayor Ricky Williams continues. Williams previously accused Nacco of using abusive language toward him, and now Nacco is sharing his side of the story. “I’m tired of being harassed and bullied by the mayor. I’m tired of watching him do it to other people as well. And I needed to speak out,” said Stephen Nacco’s wife, Cindy Nacco. * News-Gazette | Danville Council approves grocery tax, postpones gas tax vote; bickering continues between Naccos, mayor: One tax won’t start until Jan. 1, 2026, and a vote on a proposed incremental gas tax increase in the city starting next year was postponed by the Danville City Council Tuesday night. The council voted 10-4 to approve a Municipal Grocery Retailers’ Occupation Tax and a Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax to replace a 1 percent sales tax on groceries the state will no longer collect on municipalities’ behalf as of Jan. 1, 2026. Those voting against it were aldermen Tricia Teague, Jon Cooper, Ed Butler and Bob Iverson. * WSIL | SIU launches partnership with Aisin: In the new partnership, AISIN will pay SIUC students to work at the facility while they’re also working on their degree. The students will have the opportunity to train in a variety of fields while there, including industrial management and engineering. The program allows students to get paid for their 5-day work week, while also covering tuition, books, fees, transportation and parking. The students get to work part-time, while getting hands-on experience in their field, and work on their degree. The students are expected to maintain good academic standing while in the program. They’re also asked to commit to work for the company 2 years following graduation. * WAND | Land Bank working with Macon County to demolish blighted properties: The process is starting with a $337,000 Strong Communities Program grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The land bank wrote the grant application and is working with Macon County to administer the grant for Macon County. This is one of three Strong Communities Round 2 IHDA grants, totaling over $1 million, that the land bank is administering. * WQAD | Local farmers banding together to help victims of Hurricane Helene: Northwestern Illinois farmers and community members sent feed to livestock owners impacted by Hurricane Helen. On Saturday, Nov. 30, 20 producers from six counties dropped of hay bales at the Ogle and Stephenson County Fairgrounds. The six semi-loads of hay arrived at two locations in western North Carolina on Monday, Dec. 3. * The Daily Egyptian | Southern Illinois charities fight food insecurity: In southern Illinois, Feeding America estimates that 16%, or around 8,520 people, experience food insecurity in Jackson County, and 14%, or around 9,400 in Williamson County. With more than one out of ten people in these two counties experiencing food insecurity, the need for access to food for everyone grows. But for the people in the front lines of this work, things aren’t always easy. Amy Simpson has been working in the field for over 15 years. * WCIA | WATCH: Mastodon dig in Illinois: Long before there was a Great River Road, about 27,000-and-a-half years ago, a mastodon once stood atop the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Faculty and students at Principia College have discovered the specimen. “It was also smaller than the skull would be,” says Andrew Martin, chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department at Principia College, pointing to parts of a mastodon skull. “What you have is here one set and another tooth on this side and two teeth on this side. And each tooth weighs about a pound.” * Smile Politely | Krannert Art Museum promotes the art of slowing down: On a damp, windy day in early November, I stopped by Krannert Art Museum (KAM) on the University of Illinois campus to visit the Rest Lab. This innovative space is designed to provide a respite for students and community members. It is a “pop-up experience” that occupies the spaces between exhibitions, promoting intentional rest — something often overlooked or undervalued in our culture. Rest Lab is the creation of Ishita Dharap and Kamila Glowacki, KAM education coordinators. * The Atlantic | The Coming Democratic Revolution: Over the past several months, a small coterie of wonks and lawyers—and a few farsighted Democratic governors—have been working in anticipation of this moment. They have prepared measures to insulate states from the Trump administration’s most aggressive impositions. They have constructed plans to preserve abortion protections within blue-state borders and to protect environmental regulations enshrined in their books; they have formulated legal strategies for at least slowing Trump’s intended mass deportations. * Tribune | ‘Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary’ review: More than an ironic musical pleasure: HBO’s “Yacht Rock: The Dockumentary” isn’t about that low-rent, intentionally amateur-looking web series (with its absurdly funny origin story for the 1978 single “What a Fool Believes”), but its creators are featured prominently, thanks to their thoroughly unironic and thoughtful appreciation for the music itself. The taxonomy of yacht rock, which spans 1976-1984, includes McDonald (with and without The Doobie Brothers), Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross and Toto. * Reuters | Internal transactions at food giant ADM spark a sprawling criminal probe: Late on Nov 4, American agribusiness giant Archer-Daniels-Midland cut its profit forecast for 2024, delayed a quarterly earnings report and said it would restate other recent financial results, too. The announcement, the second time this year ADM said accounting “issues” were forcing it to restate past earnings, sent shares tumbling. The company’s stock lost $1.6 billion in market value the next day. ADM’s rattled shareholders are asking questions about the mounting accounting troubles – and they aren’t the only ones.
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Madigan trial roundup: Solis leaves the witness stand
Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* Sun-Times…
* WGN…
* …Adding… Capitol News Illinois…
* ABC Chicago…
* Jon Seidel is in the courtroom this morning…
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Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards
Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * We mark the passage of time in several ways on this ol’ blog: Session starts, budget addresses, session endings, the Illinois State Fair, elections, veto sessions, Alice’s Restaurant, fundraising to buy Christmas presents for foster kids and the Golden Horseshoe Awards. Our first categories…
* Best place to gather for drinks, etc. during session weeks Please nominate in both categories, and make sure to explain your nominations or your votes will not count. This ain’t a poll. It’s all about intensity. Single, well-written nominations have often beaten out organized spam. So, get in there and fight for your preferred winner. * Also, just another reminder that we’re still raising money to buy Christmas presents for foster kids who are in the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois system. Unlike the last couple of years, we haven’t yet had any anonymous matching donations, so I suggest we proceed on the assumption that past unknown wealthy benefactors might not come through this year. But that means your contribution is far more important in 2024, so, please, click here and dig deep. Thanks!
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Appellate court grants 35-day stay in Grayson release hearing
Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Some background is here if you need it. Click here for the appellate order. Springfield Leaks had the scoop. Here’s the SJ-R…
* WCIA…
* Springfield Leaks…
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Open thread
Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?… After you comment, consider clicking here to help Lutheran Social Services of Illinois buy Christmas presents for children in foster care.
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller Our LSSI fundraiser is active! We’re just shy of raising $9,000. Thank you to all those who donated! But there’s so much more Holiday joy to spread, so please give if you’re able. * ICYMI: In rare caucus, Tiffany Henyard loses Thornton Township nomination. WGN…
- Thornton Township’s Democratic Party held a caucus instead of a primary election for the first time in decades. - As Democratic Party committeeman, Sen. Napoleon Harris alone holds the right to decide whether to have a primary election or a caucus. - As of now, Sen. Harris will be among five supervisor candidates on the ballot April 1. * Related stories…
∙ ABC Chicago: Tiffany Henyard denied place on ballot to stay on as Thornton Township supervisor ∙ WGN: “A raucous caucus” seeks to determine if Tiffany Henyard can seek re-election in Thornton Township ∙ CBS Chicago: Tiffany Henyard denied place on ballot to stay on as Thornton Township, Illinois supervisor ∙ Lansing Journal: Dems oust Henyard at rare, thunderous caucus ∙ WGN: ‘They can’t beat me’: In rare caucus, Tiffany Henyard loses Thornton Township nomination ∙ Fox Chicago: ‘You can’t do stuff like this’: Tiffany Henyard, her supporters claim they were cheated in caucus * STL Today | Illinois among 9 states poised to immediately cut Medicaid rolls if federal funding drops: With Donald Trump’s return to the White House and Republicans taking full control of Congress in 2025, the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion is back on the chopping block. More than 3 million adults in nine states would be at immediate risk of losing their health coverage should the GOP reduce the extra federal Medicaid funding that’s enabled states to widen eligibility, according to KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. That’s because the states have trigger laws that would swiftly end their Medicaid expansions if federal funding falls. * A City That Works | Chicago’s state capacity crisis: City government is being slowly strangled by layers of process that have accumulated over decades. Many of these constraints are well intentioned correctives to past misdeeds. Anti-corruption checks are important, affordable housing should be high-quality, and accountable policing is fundamental to long-term public safety. But without any effort to rationalize the constraints we continue to add, we have a crisis of state capacity: a government unable to get things done. * WBEZ | Chicago is closing its biggest tent city, but comes up short on promised apartments: Homeless advocates are praising Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration and the local City Council member for coming up with the apartments; they’re also urging them to scrap the plan to remove any tent dwellers who remain. Meanwhile, the people who aren’t getting an apartment are wondering why. […] City officials say they found 63 units for people in Humboldt Park’s encampment. They say that’s the most ever for a Chicago tent city. […] Patricia Nix-Hodes, who heads the law project of the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, said there is an issue more basic than who gets offered an apartment. * WGEM | New Illinois law will require employers include salary range on job postings: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) signed the legislation in 2023 amending the state’s Equal Pay Act of 2003. It will require employers with 15 or more employees to include the job’s pay scale and expected benefits in all postings. “This is kind of making it clear that there is transparency around those things. People are going to work to provide for their families. They have a right to know how they’re going to be making if they get chosen for that position,” said Frances Orenic with the Illinois AFL-CIO. * STLPR | Illinois warehouses should be built with storm shelters, state task force recommends: The recommendation for storm shelters would require that they be built specifically for tornadoes based on the size and occupancy of a warehouse. It would amend a section of the state’s International Building Code requirements. “I don’t like the idea of encouraging safety. I like the idea of requiring safety,” said state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, who made the storm shelter recommendation. “We’re talking about deaths that happened in my district, and I take that very seriously. So, I think to require safety is something that we should all want to do as a body.” * Tribune | EPA watchdog: Undeserving Florida getting millions for lead pipe replacement while Illinois, other states have bigger needs: During the past two years the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave Florida the largest share of funding set aside by Congress to replace lead service lines. The Sunshine State got $483 million, compared with $471 million sent to Illinois, even though several of Florida’s big water utilities told the agency’s inspector general the toxic pipes don’t exist in their service areas. Florida will double its take during the next two years if the EPA fails to fix the problem, the inspector general concluded.
* Crain’s | City Council puts do-not-hire policy under a microscope in wake of mayor’s press office shakeup: Standing before four former employees of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s communications team who were placed on the do-not-hire list after being fired by their former boss, Ronnie Reese, Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, and Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, said during a news conference outside City Hall today that they plan to push for an easier appeal process for those who believe they were unfairly placed on the list. * Crain’s | CPS needs to plug a huge financial hole — but where will it find the funds?: Chicago Public Schools invested its federal dollars largely in hiring. But while students’ test scores rose, those federal funds are running out. Here’s how the school district got into a financial hole, what its options are and how this impacts an already messy budget.
* Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson tells City Club he wants Chicago under 500 homicides in 2025: Johnson floated the benchmark — which has not been achieved since 2015 — during a City Club of Chicago speech, after noting this year’s drop in homicides and shootings. The mayor’s remarks to the lunch crowd of business types and politicos also leaned heavily on his racial identity and faith as he sought to recast the narrative on his rocky year-and-a-half leading the nation’s third-largest city. * WBEZ | Chicago election officials want more voting sites, as alderpersons float agency consolidation: During the board’s annual budget hearing Tuesday, several alderpersons raised the need to consolidate the Chicago Board of Elections with the Cook County Clerk’s Office. The budget watchdog The Civic Federation and a collaborative of county and city officials had previously recommended the move more than a decade ago, with officials estimating annual savings between $5 million and $10 million. * Tribune | Pennsylvania-based Yuengling, the oldest brewery in America, is bringing its beer to Chicago: Beginning late next month, beer drinkers can be on the lookout for Yuengling at Chicago-area bars, as the historic family-owned East Coast brewery continues its slow expansion westward into the land of Old Style. Yuengling beers will also make their way onto store shelves in the weeks that follow, ending years of waiting for Illinois fans, some of whom take regular interstate journeys to fill their trunks with cases of the stuff. * Crain’s | Here’s how one of Chicago’s restaurant meat suppliers is using AI: The orders would come in from dining spots throughout the city: Lonesome Rose in Logan Square and The Bellevue in the Gold Coast, as well as catering companies, pizza joints and taverns. An employee at one of those restaurants would place an order with Northwest Meat for their chicken breast or sirloin steak for the next day. Then someone — usually co-owner Andrew Neva, his father or one of their office employees — would plug those orders into their own system, one by one, to be filled by their West Loop warehouse workers. It was tedious. It took hours. It required intimate knowledge of the meat company’s 1,300 different products. And it usually happened in the evening — a time when few employees are keen to sit back down at their computer. * WBEZ | Cook County is launching a free doula program for pregnant patients: Nearly 1,000 mostly Black or Latina patients at Cook County Health are currently pregnant, and they will be offered a choice to have a doula support and advocate for them before, during and after labor. “This program is a direct response to the stark and unacceptable disparities in maternal health that have plagued Black women for far too long,” said County Commissioner Donna Miller, who spearheaded the initiative. * PJ Star | Illinois is home to the most expensive home in all of Christmas movies: Cinch Home Services used home value data from Zillow to explore the average home prices in neighborhoods that star in some of the top Christmas movies. The McCallister house, located on Lincoln Avenue in Winnetka, Illinois, and featured in the “Home Alone” franchise, is in a neighborhood where the average home price is $1,565,804. The McCallister house is a spacious residence that often sparks curiosity due to its impressive size. At approximately 4,250 square feet, it is a large Georgian-style home with three floors, a spacious attic, five bedrooms, and four bathrooms. Earlier in 2024, the home actually went on the market for $5.25 million — well above the amount of the average home in the neighborhood. * Daily Herald | Gould resigns as Rolling Meadows football coach: Gould, who was the Bears’ kicker from 2005 through 2015 while becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer, was named the ninth head football coach in Rolling Meadows history when he was hired in February. Gould inherited a program that failed to reach the playoffs the previous two seasons after going 2-7 in 2023 and 4-5 the year before. The Mustangs had qualified in 17 of the 18 previous seasons. * PJ Star | More than 500 workers furloughed at Liberty Steel in Peoria, union says: Liberty Steel is temporarily shuttering its Peoria wire mill as the company continues to struggle financially, facing deep debts around the globe amid a challenging steel market. The company has furloughed over 500 employees at its Peoria facility, according to the union representing workers. * SJ-R | Springfield alderman: Clerk ‘hindering’ city business by not resigning: Gregory, who went through his own close election with Gail Simpson to gain his seat in 2019, told Lesko “the people, county and city, they need 100% of you. They don’t need 50% (on the city side) and 50% on the county side. This is about the city of Springfield continuing on our business and you having to do two jobs at one time.” Frank Lesko is sworn in as Sangamon County Recorder by Circuit Court Presiding Judge Ryan Cadagin at a ceremony at the county complex on Dec. 2, 2024. “We’re about to come up on budget season. We have to do interviews (for your vacancy), figure out that process and you’re hindering us, bro.” * Nieman Lab | There’s now a way for journalists to verify their Bluesky accounts through their employers (while still keeping control of them): On Bluesky, an account gets verified by connecting it to a web domain under the user’s control. For example, my account there is @joshuabenton.com, because I put a little piece of code on that domain name, which I own. Bluesky checked that little snippet of code and determined that I am me. For news organizations — or any other online publisher or brand — this means it’s easy to skip past the spoofable @mynewsorgname.bsky.social and become @nytimes.com, @cnn.com, @propublica.org, @time.com, or @npr.org. And if you’re a reporter who owns your own domain name — something I’d highly recommend! — the process is fiddly but doable in minutes. * Fox Chicago | Indiana residents could see sharp increase in electric bills: Residents in Indiana may soon see a sharp increase in their electric bills, with monthly costs expected to rise by an estimated $32 to $45. NIPSCO is seeking approval for a 22% electric rate hike, which would further increase the already highest power costs in the state. * Sun-Times | Rahm Emanuel ‘not interested’ in DNC chair, but far from done with politics: The former mayor, now U.S. ambassador to Japan, would not rule out another run for elective office — governor, U.S. senator or mayor of Chicago — even though he fully expects Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker to seek a third term. Emanuel plans to support Pritzker “100%” if he runs again.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here to help LSSI bring Holiday joy to children in foster care. You can click here and here to follow the Madigan trial. Click here and/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, Dec 4, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller Our LSSI fundraiser is active! So far we’ve raised almost $9,000! Thank you to all those who donated! But there’s so much more Holiday joy to spread, so please give if you’re able.
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Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] The Pace Rideshare Access Program subsidizes Uber trips, leaving riders with a co-pay of just $2. The impact: “This program has been a godsend for me. It offers flexibility, independence, freedom and the ability to maintain a beautiful life on so many levels,” says one rider. CTA: See how it works.
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller ICYMI: It’s Giving Tuesday! Every year we help Lutheran Social Services of Illinois buy Christmas presents for children in foster care. So far we’ve raised more than $6,000, which works out to 241 presents for foster kids. But lots more kids could use some joy, so please donate what you can. Thank you! * Happy 206th Anniversary Illinois…
* Tribune | Madigan prosecutors to ask Solis about cooperation against another ‘high-ranking official’ — but can’t mention Edward Burke by name: The leeway given to prosecutors comes a day after Madigan attorney Dan Collins decided to bring up Burke in his cross, pointing out the contrasting styles between Burke and Madigan when soliciting business for their respective law firms. Collins asked Solis, didn’t Burke offer to pay you for law business referrals? Didn’t Burke say things to you like ‘the cash register hasn’t rung’ and ‘Did we land the tuna?’ * Sun-Times | Madigan jury gets to hear about Solis’ undercover work against Ed Burke, just not his name: Jurors still might have enough information to connect the dots. During his interrogation of Solis on Monday, Madigan attorney Dan Collins began asking Solis about Burke. Collins noted that Burke had told Solis “the cash register has not rung yet” and asked “did we land … the tuna” as he tried to strong-arm business out of the developers of Chicago’s Old Post Office. * Sun-Times | As newspapers close across the U.S., study finds Illinois is hard hit: As newspapers continue to close across the country, Illinois has been particularly hard hit. The state has lost 86% of its journalists since 2005 — the highest percentage decline in the nation, according to the Medill State of Local News report released in October. Nationally, there was a 60% drop in newspaper journalist positions during that same period. * WCIA | IL Attorney General offers tips on charitable donations this holiday season: “I encourage potential donors to review my Charitable Trust Bureau’s tips before making donations for Giving Tuesday and throughout the holiday season,” Raoul said. “I will continue to offer resources to Illinois residents who give charitable donations to ensure their generous donations are used for the intended purpose.” * NBC Chicago | IDPH warns of whooping cough increase as cases reach levels not seen in 20 years: According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, October alone saw 408 cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, marking the “largest monthly total in 20 years.” The number is more than double the number of cases reported in October 2023, health officials noted. Preliminary data showed the state has recorded more than 1,900 confirmed and probable cases of whooping cough so far this year, the highest number since 2012. Illinois’ surge in pertussis is in line with a national surge, which comes after a sharp drop in cases during the COVID pandemic. * Chicago Reader | How Chicago leaves communities in the dust: On October 1, Neighbors for Environmental Justice (N4EJ) released their second report in two years, “Paid to Pollute,” which found that the city department responsible for government contracts doesn’t monitor whether companies violate environmental regulations and there are few consequences for companies that do. For community members in N4EJ, city compliance is personal. The group formed in the McKinley Park neighborhood in 2018 when MAT Asphalt, which holds millions of dollars in city contracts, constructed a facility across from the eponymous park and in close proximity to schools and homes. In 2020, developers canceled a planned 120-unit affordable housing project in the neighborhood after they failed to secure funding from the city or state over concerns about the plant’s emissions. * Block Club | New NW Side Police Commander Says Technology Is Best Way To Combat Burglaries, Other Crime: About 100 days into his new position, Vanna said his top goals are to make policing the district more efficient by using technology to identify crime patterns and also to get officers more involved in the neighborhood. “The community is what holds us accountable,” Vanna said during a recent interview. * Crain’s | Ad agency known for Super Bowl spots expanding office, moving to Merchandise Mart: Highdive Advertising, an independent agency behind a series of hit Super Bowl ads in recent years, confirmed it has leased about 26,000 square feet on the 17th floor at the hulking riverfront property. The 8-year-old firm is subleasing its new office from sales software maker Seismic and expanding from roughly 12,000 square feet it occupies today at 320 W. Ohio St., where its lease expires at the end of this month. * Block Club | Near West Side’s Last Migrant Shelter Closes: While there are about seven migrant shelters in the city today, that figure stood north of 20 more than a year ago. […] There are about 3,300 residents currently in the city’s migrant shelters. The Mayor’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on where migrants staying at the Walnut Street shelter were moved to. * Crain’s | Fello, an app to fight loneliness, raises $10.4 million: A new Chicago-based startup is looking to put the power of the gig economy to work to combat loneliness, raising $10.4 million for its peer support platform, the company, Fello, said in a news release this morning. […] Its mission is to bring together “Finders” and “Fellos” to combat what U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy last year dubbed a growing epidemic of loneliness and isolation. Murthy has compared the health impact of social isolation to a 15-cigarette a day habit. * CBS Chicago | At Dolton, Illinois Village Board meeting, residents say they want Mayor Tiffany Henyard voted out: The Dolton Village Board meeting Monday night started 30 minutes late, as trustees waited for the mayor to arrive. Trustee Jason House said at one point that they would give the mayor five minutes to show up. Henyard delayed the meeting with no explanation. But it gave residents something quickly to talk about. * NBC Chicago | Dolton will soon be without a police chief while mayor says she will be victorious in bid for second term: “Know this – I am going to come through on a landslide just like Trump did,” Henyard said. “Like it or not, I am your mayor.” But in the coming days, Henyard’s hand-picked choice for interim police chief will be out of a job. A judge said Ronnie Burge Sr. could only serve for 30 days, making his last day on the job Dec. 6. * Daily Herald | Lake County Board leadership unchanged; Shift at top for forest preserve: The Lake County Board’s leadership isn’t changing, but there has been a shift at the top of the Lake County forest preserve board. Seven returning county board members were sworn in Monday for their new terms, with the panel’s 14-5 Democrat majority remaining unchanged. * Daily Herald | DuPage Forest Preserve District acquires Bolger Farm near Wheaton: But with the forest preserve district acquiring that property on the east side of Leask Lane, the conservation agency is adding about 35 acres to what it calls a “critical natural corridor.” The district recently finalized the $12 million purchase of the Gladstone Ridge property — the “open space link” between the arboretum and Danada, an area with its own equestrian history. * Daily Southtown | Will County Board elects Democratic speaker, replaces Steve Balich as Republican leader: The board elected new leadership, including Wilmington Democrat Joe VanDuyne, a board member since 2018, as its new speaker. The speaker, formerly known as County Board chair, presides over meetings in the absence of the county executive, prepares agendas and assigns committees.VanDuyne, most recently the chair of the board’s Public Works and Transportation Committee, succeeds Judy Ogalla, a Monee Republican who held post for the last two years. * Lake County News-Sun | Lake County Forest Preserves Board has new president; ‘We can continue to honor this lovely corner of the world’: The Lake County Forest Preserves Board elected Commissioner Jessica Vealitzek as its new president, who touted the recent passing of a $155 million referendum for land acquisition and habitat restoration as a mandate from the public to continue the board’s efforts. Vealitzek, who was nominated by Commissioner Jennifer Clark, was elected with 14 ayes and five present votes. Commissioner Gina Roberts was elected vice president, and Commissioner Paul Frank was elected president pro tempore. * Sun-Times | Holiday filmmakers are flocking to Chicago’s suburbs for the scenery: “Once Upon a Christmas Wish,” a Long Grove production starring Mario Lopez, premieres Saturday on the Great American Family network. And two other Illinois-based movies, “Christmas at the Zoo” and “Christmas in Chicago,” will be released in the future. […] Chicago-based Throughline Films co-founder John Bosher also cited the local crews, acting talent, tax credit and scenery as reasons for filming in the area. He and Chris Charles started the company in 2012 and launched the Very Merry Entertainment venture upon discovering the growing demand for American holiday movies locally and abroad. * SJ-R | Boys & Girls Clubs could end programming at 8 Springfield schools: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois announced Monday the Illinois State Board of Education declined to renew a $1.2 million grant made available through the federal government. […] “The lack of transparency and timely communication from ISBE throughout this grant process, coupled with the delayed funding decision coming halfway into the school year has left the Club with devastatingly limited options,” a news release said. * Police 1 | 1st police department in Illinois to use AI-powered police officer assistant: Due to limited resources, most U.S. law enforcement agencies currently review less than 1% of their body-worn camera (BWC) footage. By automating 100% of BWC reviews and eliminating ineffective random review, TRULEO streamlines these processes, solving common challenges faced by departments and ultimately leading to improved officer morale, recruitment, retention, and better policing outcomes. Additionally, TRULEO’s technology helps identify training and coaching opportunities for officers, enabling departments to proactively address potential issues. * WICS | Sangamon County Clerk announces recounts in Recorder’s and County Board District 25: On Monday, a petition was filed for the Recorder’s race, on behalf of Josh Langfelder. In this race, Democratic candidate Josh Langfelder received 49,093 votes and Republican candidate Frank Lesko received 49,124 votes. The petition specified 41 precincts to be inspected. * WCIA | Vermilion County officials sworn in: Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy is now the first state’s attorney in county history to be elected for three consecutive terms, her office said in a news release. She credits her leadership through expanding funding for more victim advocates and helping found the Vermilion County Child Advocacy Center with the late Senator Scott Bennett for children who faced abuse and neglect. * WCIA | Illinois Football assistant coach dies at age 62: Dana Dimel, the Senior Offensive Assistant for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team, has died. Illinois Athletics announced that the longtime coach passed away Tuesday at the age of 62. He is survived by his wife Julie and their children Winston and Joey. * WBEZ | Prolific Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt’s works are now on display at Springfield museum: The prolific Black sculptor Richard Hunt, who died a year ago this month, came of age during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ‘60s. He was born a couple of blocks away from 14-year-old Emmett Till’s childhood home in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, and at 19 years old, he attended Till’s open-casket funeral. Hunt used his art to express themes of racial trauma, grief and Black liberation. Former President Barack Obama called him one of the “finest artists ever to come out of Chicago.” He said he and former first lady Michelle Obama are “eternally grateful” that one of Hunt’s works will sit outside the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. * WTTW | The Unglamorous Sucker Fish Plays a Key Great Lakes Role. A Shedd Scientist and Her Band of Volunteers Want to Tell You Why: In analyzing the first seven years of data collected by her cadre of volunteers, Murchie has been able to determine the best predictor of sucker movement. It’s water temperature: 43.3 degrees Fahrenheit, to be precise, which is essentially the sucker equivalent of “on your mark, get set, go.” Murchie recently published these results in the journal Environmental Biology of Fishes. In the paper, she name-checks every single one of the 80 volunteers who’ve participated in the project, be it for a single year or all seven. * JS Online | Act 10 overturned by Dane County judge. Walker-era law decimated public employee unions: A Dane County judge on Monday sent ripples through Wisconsin’s political landscape, overturning a 13-year-old law that banned most collective bargaining among public employees, consequently decimating the size and power of employee unions and turning then-Republican Gov. Scott Walker into a nationally known political figure. The effort to overturn Act 10 began in November 2023 when several unions representing public employees filed the lawsuit, citing a “dire situation” in workplaces with issues including low pay, staffing shortages and poor working conditions.
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Let’s help these kids! (Updated)
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Today is Giving Tuesday, which is our traditional kick-off day for our annual charity fundraiser. Every year, we pitch in to help Lutheran Social Services of Illinois buy Christmas presents for foster kids. LSSI spends about $25 on each gift and none of what we raise goes to the group’s overhead costs. It’s all about the kids and even a small donation can go a long way. None of these children are living great lives right now. They don’t come from functional families. So, what we try to do here is help brighten their lives one day a year with a gift. It can make a big difference for these kids. So, please, click here to donate. As I told you earlier this year, some friends and I attended an LSSI event and we all made donations. But I will still keep up my end of our tradition and match the first $2,000 contributed by you. * Again, please click here and give whatever you can. Thanks! …Adding… We already reached the first $2,000+, so I kicked in my pledged $2K. Please click here and give whatever you can. Thanks!!!
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Once again, a Chicago revenue idea would require state approval
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Sun-Times…
* From a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) fact sheet on the 43rd Ward website…
The Chicago Bears floated the idea of a PILOT for an Arlington Heights stadium. The idea has gone nowhere. Also, just about every legislative district outside Chicago has a hospital in it and their association is quite powerful. Hospital boards are typically filled with influential local people. * Meanwhile, over at CPS…
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Lion Electric struggling, but no state subsidies have yet been paid out
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * ABC 7…
* The company has been struggling for months. Here’s a Tribune story from July…
The vehicles cost the school districts about $350,000 each, which is way more than the $150,000 for a petroleum-powered bus. Hence, the federal subsidies. * The company has received no state subsidies…
The company is currently scrambling to raise private and Canadian government funding. Discuss.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Newsweek…
* Last year during the debate to lift the moratorium on small nuclear reactors, a lobbyist claimed attitudes toward nuclear energy differ by generation. This Pew research study from May breaks down some age and partisan support for nuclear power…
* The Question: Do you support or oppose building more nuclear power plants in Illinois? Make sure to explain your answer. If you’d like, share which generation you belong to.
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Madigan trial roundup: Solis faces first day of cross-examination
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
* Sun-Times…
* Jon Seidel, the federal courts reporter for the Sun-Times…
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Open thread
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Gov. JB Pritzker names first head of state’s new early childhood agency. Tribune…
- If confirmed by the state Senate, Ramos will oversee the launch of a department that is expected to consolidate functions now under the state’s Department of Human Services, Board of Education and Department of Children and Family Services. - Ramos has already been involved in strategic planning for the new agency, the governor’s office said. * Related stories…
∙ Capitol News Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker signs bill creating new Illinois Department of Early Childhood * IPM News | After closure of Stateville Correctional Center, some incarcerated students may never speak with their professors again: Rivers couldn’t bring herself to say goodbye in person either. In her second to last class, her icebreaker question was about what the class meant to everyone. “Kleenex was needed,” she added. Correctional Center had some of the worst conditions of any Illinois prison. Rivers said students have taken tap water out of her hands and gave her their bottled water instead, because they refused to let her drink something so unhealthy. A man died when temperatures reached dangerous levels in his cell. * Sun-Times | New Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke vows to lower ‘war zone numbers’ of Chicago violence: Her first policy directive calls for prosecutors to seek detention for “every detainable felony offense where an offender used or possessed a firearm equipped with an extended magazine, drum magazine, automatic switch, or used a ghost gun or defaced firearm.” The county also will seek detention for “any domestic violence-related, stalking or sex offense where the offender used or possessed a weapon” as well as “any detainable felony offense that is committed on public transportation,” among other cases, O’Neill Burke’s office said in a statement. * Advantage News | IBA files suit over Interchange Fee Prohibition: The Illinois Bankers Association is saying Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin writing a letter to The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is “missing the forest for the trees.” Illinois law that goes into effect in 2025 seeks to bar interchange fee collection on taxes and tips, which sparked a legal fight with the banks. Illinois Bankers Association v. Raoul is now being litigated in federal court with financial institutions suing to block the law’s implementation. * Capitol News Illinois | State Board of Elections certifies election results showing decline in turnout: Illinois saw turnout dip in 2024 compared to recent presidential contests. About 5.7 million people participated in this year’s election, representing 70.42% of the state’s 8.1 million registered voters. That’s a decline from 2020 when 72.92% of voters participated in the largest turnout for a presidential election in Illinois since 1992, according to the board. * WTTW | Advocates Push for Stricter Emissions Standards to Improve Air Quality in Illinois: The Illinois Pollution Control Board took hours of testimony Monday from environmental and other advocates encouraging Illinois to make the state’s standards for car and truck emissions stronger than federal regulations. Another proposed policy would require that in a decade, half of new trucks sold in Illinois must also be zero emission, while a final proposal calls for tightening tailpipe standards for diesel emissions — a move that relies on manufacturers of diesel engines to make them in a way that produces less nitrogen oxide. * Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson says he didn’t know about allegations against ex-communications director: And Johnson said his administration has no tolerance for the kind of harassment, sexism, racism or other abusive behavior several employees in his administration allege Reese engaged in while running the mayor’s press office. He deflected questions on how the documents also show frustration over how his chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, suggested “peace circles” in response to concerns over Reese’s behavior, and did not say how often such remedies are considered. * Tribune | SEIU threatens lawsuit over CTU contract negotiations with CPS: The teachers union has proposed contract language to CPS that SEIU fears would allow classroom assistants, who are represented by CTU, to take over some of the special education classroom aides’ jobs. Labor union contracts often include language that sets rules to protect jobs from being outsourced away to non-union sources. However, In this case, SEIU 73 is concerned about the teachers union taking work from SEIU members. * Sun-Times | Nearly two-thirds of CPS principals and assistant principals want to keep CPS CEO: More than 670 principals and assistant principals — almost two-thirds of the 1,100 in CPS — praised Martinez and urged the board to “not make any personnel decisions impacting the senior CPS leadership.” “Our opinions and voices should matter with the future of our district,” the group said. “A change of leadership would be a decision rooted in political interests, not the interest of students.” * ABC Chicago | Chicago Public Schools parents calling for restoration of bus service: Tuesday, a local parents’ group will be asking Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez to immediately restore bus service. They also want the district to reinstate stipends previously provided to parents for alternative transportation. Parents of diverse learners and students with disabilities said they have been most adversely affected by the ongoing bus driver shortage. * Block Club | ‘Plow The Sidewalks’ Pilot Left Out Of City Budget, Angering Disability Rights Advocates: Mayor Brandon Johnson has backed the proposal, previously saying the report was an “important step in building a safer city where no resident is left behind.” But with the city facing an almost $1 billion budget gap for 2025, the pilot has not been included in next year’s spending plan. The mayor still supports the program but was forced to push back its implementation due to the budget shortfall, the city’s Chief Operating Officer John Roberson told the Tribune last week. * Block Club | Renovation Of Rogers Park Metra Station Delayed: About 30 percent of the design for the renovation is finished, but Metra is waiting for approval from Union Pacific — which owns and operates the stations and tracks — before finishing the final design, Gillis said. Metra is also waiting for federal environmental approval, which is required for a project funded with federal money. The agency hopes to have it by early 2025, Gillis said. * Sun-Times | Kim Foxx reflects on bail reform, vacating wrongful convictions as successor takes tough-on-crime stance: Foxx also emphasized her work in overturning more than 15,000 cannabis-related convictions and expanding the data the public can see about how felony cases are handled. “For too long, the work of the criminal justice system has been largely a mystery,” she said. Foxx noted that her office referred more than 17,000 people to diversion programs that offer drug treatment, job placement and other services, instead of prison. Nearly 75% of those people graduated, her office said. * Sun-Times | New clerk of Cook County courts pledges to reform office best known for scandals, errors: After being sworn in at the Daley Center, Mariyana Spyropoulos said she would work to make court records more accessible to both litigants and the public — hammering on a promise she made during her campaign to unseat incumbent Clerk of the Circuit Court Iris Martinez. * Daily Herald | ‘More we can do’: Widow asks for guardrails at tollway ramp in Rosemont where husband died: “I don’t know if this guardrail would have saved my husband’s life,” said Laura Leatherberry, Oberto’s wife, who penned letters to nearly a dozen agencies and politicians. “I hope it would have. I think it might have. I’ll never know that for sure. But I know I can help save other people’s lives.” * Daily Herald | Des Plaines police to get new cameras for uniforms, squad cars: The 10-year deal is with Axon Enterprise, an Arizona-based company that provides such gear to police departments in Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Hoffman Estates, Palatine and elsewhere across the Chicago area and the nation. Des Plaines police officers have used cameras from a Missouri company called Safe Fleet since 2015 but have experienced quality and service issues, Chief David Anderson said in a memo. Additionally, in February, Safe Fleet will stop servicing the software and computer server it provided, Anderson said before the council’s vote Monday. * SJ-R | Langfelder files for discovery recount after Lesko is sworn in as recorder: Lesko held on for a 31-vote win over Langfelder, who has been Recorder since 2008, after late-arriving vote by mail ballots and provisional ballots were tallied on Nov. 19. Forty-one precincts will be inspected in the recount. * STLPR | Could St. Clair County flip red like Madison County? The GOP is optimistic: Democrats in St. Clair County previously enjoyed double-digit victories over their Republican opponents, but those margins of victory over the last three elections have crept into the single digits. “Things have changed a lot,” said Michael Butler, chairman of the St. Clair County Republican Party. “I think we’re just kind of a little bit behind the trend compared to our neighbors, but I think eventually we’ll be in a similar boat.” * SJ-R | New report finds two Springfield hospitals aren’t fully compliant with price rules: Springfield Memorial passed in most of the metrics but failed in the categories of Pricing Data Sufficiency Rating and CMS Validator Tool. There are 15 categories total. St John’s failed in the categories of Header Information, MRF Filename Format, and TXT File and Content. * KSDK | Police chief in small Illinois village concedes 3 police chases in 8 days is ‘a little bit excessive’: Outside the police department Monday, Chief Terry Pruitt told 5 On Your Side he was taking full accountability for the three high-speed chases in eight days, admitting they were “a little bit excessive.” […] “The biggest problem we have had and has plagued Brooklyn is vehicles fleeing from us. Everybody thinks that once they get to Missouri, we have to terminate, and they’re good to go. Unfortunately, they don’t understand that we still have to do our jobs and we still have to police the public and protect the public,” Pruitt said. * WSIL | Carbondale Warming Center expands shelter space amid dropping temperatures: The center is located at 608 E. College Street in Carbondale. If you wish to use the center, you must show a valid ID. If you don’t have an ID, you can go to the Carbondale Police Department and have them call the Carbondale Warming Center to verify identities. Guests can enter by 7 p.m., stay overnight, and leave the next morning at 8 a.m. * SJ-R | Springfield’s Director of Planning and Economic Development is retiring: The city’s Director of Planning and Economic Development, Val Yazell, has announced her retirement for the end of this year. Hazel began in the role in November 2017 when Former Mayor Jim Langfelder appointed her. She served as a contract employee for a time until the position was restored and Yazell was hired as a full-time employee. Langfelder fired Yazell in 2021, but Mayor Misty Buscher hired her again in 2023.
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Live coverage
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * You can click here to follow the Madigan trial. Click here and/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)
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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