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Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* WBEZ…

A miscalculation by the state of Illinois is putting in jeopardy after-school programs that serve about 27,000 students across the state. […]

During the pandemic, the state awarded a new set of programs 21st Century grants and allowed organizations to keep unspent money, not realizing this would result in insufficient funding to continue funding longtime recipients. ISBE estimates this could result in a shortfall of up to $15 million.

“ISBE did not adequately forecast the fiscal impact of these programmatic decisions,” spokeswoman Jackie Matthews said in a statement “ISBE is in the process of establishing new internal fiscal and communications protocols to prevent this type of situation moving forward.”

The state recently told some organizations their grants wouldn’t be renewed after they expired this year, and there would be no application for new grants. This group of recipients had been receiving about $9.7 million, with some getting these grants for decades.

Another group of grantees were promised $15 million through next school year, but the state admits it doesn’t have any 21st Century money left. The Illinois State Board of Education says it has asked the U.S. Department of Education if other money could be made available.

* Here’s an update from Alice Yin on asylum-seeker evictions yesterday…



* WBEZ…

To prevent the movement of invasive carp into the Great Lakes, the states of Illinois and Michigan and the Army Corps of Engineers need to sign an agreement — but for months they have been locked in a stalemate over what comes next.

Documents obtained by WBEZ show that Illinois wants a better deal that leaves the door open for more federal funding and an incremental construction process.

“While the federal government has determined this project is of the highest priority, the taxpayers of Illinois and Michigan should not be the only states to carry the burden of the non-federal share of funding when the entire Great Lakes region will certainly experience the devastating impact of inaction,” according to a letter signed by Gov. JB Pritzker to the U.S. Army. […]

To protect the lakes, the federal government will pay for 90% of the costs of the project and Illinois and Michigan will pick up the tab on g the 10%. To date, Illinois has already committed $50 million in state funding to the project. But the governor’s letter shows that Pritzker is wary of overcommitting Illinois taxpayers.

* Press release…

Senate Democrats to outline measure to strengthen child labor laws

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ existing child labor laws have not been substantially updated since the industrial era – nor have they been brought into alignment with the prevailing service economy of the 21st century.

To better safeguard the rights and well-being of the state’s youngest residents, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are working to strengthen child labor laws through a measure they will outline at a press conference Friday.

WHO: State Senators Robert Peters (D-Chicago), Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) and Christopher Belt (D-Swansea), as well as AFL-CIO Legislative Director Frances Orenic, and Illinois Department of Labor Legislative Policy Director Anna Koeppel

WHAT: Press conference on strengthening child labor laws

WHEN: Friday, March 22 at 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Blue Room, Illinois State Capitol and live on BlueRoomStream.com

* And…

* Here’s the rest…

    * NBC Chicago | DMV facilities in Illinois back up and running after ‘network outage’: Secretary of State: Drivers License facilities and DMVs in Illinois are back up and running following a nationwide “network outage,” the Illinois Secretary of State said Thursday afternoon. […] Around 12 p.m., Giannoulias told NBC Chicago systems in Illinois were “back up and running.”It wasn’t immediately clear if a network outage remained at other DMV locations across the country.

    * Illinois Times | Springfield doctors join push for statewide insurance reform: Dr. Mary Dobbins, a pediatrician and child psychiatrist at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, also testified and said at the news conference that the bill “literally addresses life-and-death issues.” She said the ongoing shortage of mental-health professionals is “artificially magnified” by insurance requirements and restrictions. “Care is commonly delayed, inaccessible, inadequate or even completely denied,” she said.

    * Tribune | Judge rules CPD officers accused of serious misconduct may choose arbitration, but hearings to remain public: “The restriction of public access to arbitrations for serious police discipline is a direct contravention of the well-defined and dominant public policy of accountability and transparency of the government services in general and the Chicago Police Department specifically,” Mullen wrote. “The Neutral Chair’s decision that the arbitration of any cases where discipline could result in dismissal or suspension in excess of 365 days must proceed in private is against a dominant and well-defined public policy.”

    * Daily Herald | Fewer than 50 votes separate McHenry County Board candidates; race still too close to call:
    Less than 50 votes separate incumbent Eric Hendricks of Lake in the Hills and former board member Robert “Bob” Nowak of Algonquin. Hendricks is ahead in the unofficial totals. McHenry County Clerk Joe Tirio said the next update on the votes will be after they’re canvassed on April 8. He said the low turnout was a big reason the clerk’s office isn’t likely to give periodic updates as votes come in since there is a potential to publicize someone’s vote.

    * Tribune | All eyes on election authorities as race for state’s attorney remains tight: Processing of mail ballots will begin Thursday, and scanning and counting kicks off Friday. The first updated unofficial election results should be available by Friday evening, Bever said. Between 40% and 60% of outstanding mail ballots have been returned in the two most recent Chicago elections, according to a Tribune analysis, so it is possible the return rate is closer to about 55,000 for Chicago alone. However, given the historically low voter turnout in this election, that number could be even lower.

    * WBEZ | She called the number on her syllabus offering counseling. No one picked up: So she left, worked at Target for a year then transferred to the University of Illinois Chicago. That’s when she recognized she needed help processing all the change and upheaval she’d experienced. […] “I called them a couple times and it all went to voicemail … I also emailed. There was never a response,” said Dizon, now a junior and a graphic design major. “It was kind of like, ‘Well, you’re all on your own,’ and ‘You have to be tough.’ … I just wish they picked up.”

    * Crain’s | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first chief of staff quits less than a year into the job: Guidice was not expected to be a long-term aide to Johnson, but it was anticipated he would stay on through the DNC. City Hall veterans and members of the City Council described Guidice’s role as becoming tenuous under Johnson in recent months as he’s been left out of important meetings where a chief of staff would traditionally be included.

    * Sun-Times | Johnson doubles down, appoints official negligent in Little Village dust storm debacle to run Buildings Department: Mayor Brandon Johnson officially appointed Marlene Hopkins, the Buildings Department employee who oversaw a botched implosion of a Little Village coal plant smokestack four years ago, to be the city’s top official responsible for making sure buildings, as well as demolitions, are safe for the public. The appointment must be confirmed by the City Council.

    * Tribune | Judge rules CPD officers accused of serious misconduct may choose arbitration, but hearings to remain public: “The restriction of public access to arbitrations for serious police discipline is a direct contravention of the well-defined and dominant public policy of accountability and transparency of the government services in general and the Chicago Police Department specifically,” Mullen wrote. “The Neutral Chair’s decision that the arbitration of any cases where discipline could result in dismissal or suspension in excess of 365 days must proceed in private is against a dominant and well-defined public policy.”

    * Tribune | Sex assault lawsuit against former CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson dismissed by judge: On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo granted motions for summary judgment filed by both Johnson and the city. “The basic problem with Donald’s claim is that virtually all the evidence of her conduct suggests that she welcomed and was an active participant in her relationship with Johnson,” Bucklo wrote. “The explanation that her friendly, welcoming behavior was an attempt to appease Johnson and make her life more bearable is unavailing because the relevant inquiry considers the objective nature of her conduct as it would appear to Johnson, not solely her subjective intent.”

    * Tribune | March Madness sports betting big business in Illinois, but Bally’s Chicago remains on the sidelines: March Madness tipped off Wednesday with a record $2.72 billion expected to be legally wagered on the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments over the next 2½ weeks, according to the American Gaming Association. A lot of that money will be wagered in Illinois, the third-largest sports betting market in the U.S. None of that money, however, will run through Bally’s Chicago, the city’s first casino, which has yet to open its promised sportsbook.

    * WGN | Illinois State Police to increase compensation for new troopers: ISP announced in a news release Thursday that effective July 1, new troopers will earn a total compensation above $90,000 upon graduation from the Illinois State Police Academy. According to the release, “With the tight labor market, the increase in starting pay and benefits for first-year troopers allows ISP to remain competitive and attract qualified candidates who are dedicated to pursuing justice and protecting the public.”

    * NBC Chicago | Suburban school board members face calls to resign over handling of former staff member’s criminal conduct allegations: “Superintendent? Any plans for you to resign?” NBC Chicago’s Evrod Cassimy said. “No comment,” Fenton School District 100 Superintendent James Ontengco said. Board President Cary Lewis also resisted calls for resignation, answering “absolutely not” to questions regarding his future.

    * Illinois Times | Building “an ecosystem of solutions” on the east side: New city, state funding for CAP 1908 will allow for acquisition of two adjacent buildings

    * WTTW | ‘Dream Realized’ as Illinois Conservation Groups Add 1,000 Acres to Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge: The 985-acre farm is now the single largest property within the boundaries of the refuge, which was established in 2012 and encompasses four conservation core areas that straddle McHenry County in Illinois and Walworth County in Wisconsin, all within the Nippersink Creek Watershed. […] “It’s an extraordinary property,” Emy Brawley, Illinois state director for the Conservation Fund, told WTTW News. “It’s really rare to have a parcel that’s this big.”

    * Block Club | Vic Mensa Surprises Da Book Joint With Check To Cover A Year’s Rent: What a difference a few months can make. After Block Club reported on their decision to keep the store open, the mother and daughter team have been buoyed by an outpouring of community love, an appearance on the “Today” show and — most recently — a donation from South Side rapper Vic Mensa that will keep the lights on for a year.

  4 Comments      


Poulos* loses big

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Remember this candidate?…

When he announced his candidacy for Cook County judge, Chicago Police Lt. John D. Poulos touted the opportunity to “continue my public service, which spans 23 years.”

It’s a career mired in controversy and allegations of dishonesty from the start, an Injustice Watch investigation shows.

An analysis of thousands of documents from internal police investigations, lawsuits, and county and federal court records reveals a man whose credibility was repeatedly called into question — and a police department’s repeated failures to discipline him.

Poulos’ tarnished track record includes two fatal shootings, omitting previous arrests on his application to become a police officer, inappropriate business dealings while he was on an extended leave of absence from the police department, and blocking undocumented domestic violence victims from applying for legal status.

Police officials tried to fire Poulos in 2017 but failed primarily because they took more than a decade to file the charges. […]

Last month, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias — whose office oversees the state’s 140,000 notaries — opened a misconduct investigation into Poulos after he notarized documents in a case in which he had a personal stake. If true, it would be a violation of the state’s Notary Public Act, which says notaries “shall not acknowledge any instrument in which the notary’s name appears as a party in the transaction.” […]

Poulos has the deepest war chest in the race, thanks to a $500,000 loan from his wife, Marjorie Schwartz Poulos, an executive at a Wisconsin-based consumer lender.

Poulos busted the contribution caps, but finished a distant fourth in a four-way race, scoring just 4.52 percent.

Money doesn’t always win.

Big hat tip to Injustice Watch, by the way. It not only published that expose on Poulos, it also published a well-researched list of judicial candidates with notations about those with significant past controversies. The rest of the news media could learn a very valuable lesson from them.

* Injustice Watch’s list of apparent winners…

• In the 3rd subcircuit, Lucy Vasquez-Gonzalez, a solo practitioner who focuses on family law.
• In the 7th, Judge Owens J. Shelby, an appointed Cook County judge who hears traffic cases, is on his way to defeating repeat candidate Deirdre Bauman.
• In the 10th, James V. Murphy, a former assistant Cook County state’s attorney.
• In the 14th, Griselda Vega Samuel, a lawyer for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, trounced repeat candidate Steve Demitro.
• In the 15th, Luciano “Lou” Panici Jr., a Chicago Heights lawyer and son of a Cook County associate judge.
• In the 19th, Bridget Colleen Duignan, a Beverly personal injury lawyer, defeated two opponents including former Oak Lawn Village President Dave Heilmann and Risa Renee Lanier, second-in-command to Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.
• In the 20th, Nadine Jean Wichern, a lawyer for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, beat Nickolas Pappas, Michael J. Zink and John Poulos, a Chicago police officer with a career tarnished by controversy, allegations of dishonesty and two fatal shootings.

[* Poulos is not related to Local 150 honcho and Statehouse denizen Marc Poulos, by the way. I just wanted to have a little fun with him in the headline.]

  14 Comments      


ISBE says it will rethink student, school assessments

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The way the state’s student assessments are calculated has allowed some of the usual suspects to twist the results into claiming that Illinois is an abject failure. For instance, this is from a Wall Street Journal editorial…

No one thought Illinois schools were a shining beacon in the education landscape, but we didn’t know how truly awful so many of them are. A new report by Wirepoints using the state’s data shows that an epidemic of indifferent instruction and social promotion has left children unable to perform at even the most basic educational level.

* In the real world, our benchmark standards are higher than almost all other states…

Illinois has some of the most rigorous learning standards in the nation: ranking fourth most rigorous for 4th grade reading and fifth most rigorous for 8th grade reading. In Illinois, a student needs to earn a level of 4 or 5 to be considered proficient.

In comparison, the rigor of Florida’s standards ranks 39th and 42nd, respectively, and a student only needs to earn a level 3 on the state assessment to be considered proficient.

(This was a Bruce Rauner initiative, by the way. Seems almost as if he designed it to deliberately make Illinois look bad so that pointy wires and others could scream bloody murder about the evil teachers unions.)

* This is how State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders recently explained what’s going on…

Imagine you have a child competing in a track meet. She has trained diligently for her event – the 100-meter hurdles – but to qualify for the medal round, she must finish in the top three in her heat. As the runners take their places at the starting line, you can feel your heartbeat quicken.

And they’re off! Your daughter is first out of the blocks, but it’s apparent as she crosses each hurdle that she is falling further and further behind the leaders. In a flash the race is over, and despite a valiant effort your daughter finishes fourth.

As you head to the finish line to console your child, you notice something odd out of the corner of your eye. The hurdles in your daughter’s lane are not the same height as those in other lanes – in fact, they are about six inches higher! When you find a track official and point out the clearly uneven playing field, the official appears sympathetic but shrugs his shoulders. “That’s the way we’ve set up this event for as long as I can remember,” he explains. “I know it’s unfair,” he adds, “but I don’t make the rules.”

Sounds ridiculous, right? Something that would never happen. And yet, that’s essentially what’s happening to students in Illinois today. Our current system of student assessment, which should be designed to accurately determine which students are on pace to succeed in college or career, is asking Illinois students to jump over hurdles that are higher than those faced by students in other states.

* Red Bud High School Principal…


* Back to Superintendent Sanders…

Our cut scores for proficiency are 60 points higher in English language arts and 10 points higher in math than the College Board’s national college readiness benchmarks, which indicate a 75% chance of earning at least a C in first-semester, credit-bearing college courses. It’s an uneven playing field that is sending the wrong messages to students and families across Illinois, and it’s been that way for nearly a decade.

Realigning student assessment is one way we can create a more equitable education system, and it isn’t the only way. We also need to reevaluate how schools themselves are assessed. When there are schools with 0% of students proficient in English language arts or math in the same category as schools that have 80% of students proficient and all are labeled “commendable,” we must acknowledge there’s a problem. When 73% of our schools are labeled “commendable,” despite performance indicators that may be telling a different story, we have to agree it’s time to solve that problem.

If we are to provide a statewide system of support that effectively and equitably directs resources to the places of greatest need, we simply must have more accurate measurements of student success and school performance. […]

Over the next two years ISBE will undergo a process to engage stakeholders across the state in updating and providing feedback on our ESSA State Plan.

Not a bad idea, but the ISBE definitely needs to do both of the things that Sanders mentioned: Align our assessment system with the rest of the country, and tackle the all-too real problems some schools face.

  11 Comments      


Today’s must-read: Federal judge administers brutal beat-down of Blagojevich (Updated)

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* United States District Judge Steven C. Seeger is now officially my hero…

More than a decade ago, Governor Rod Blagojevich left the Dirksen Federal Building in disgrace. He was charged, tried, and convicted of more than ten counts of corruption. He received a sentence of 14 years, and the Seventh Circuit largely affirmed. “The evidence, much of it from Blagojevich’s own mouth, is overwhelming.” See United States v. Blagojevich, 794 F.3d 729, 734 (7th Cir. 2015).

While the charges were pending, the Illinois General Assembly took decisive action to remove him from public office. Blagojevich inspired bipartisanship. The Illinois House of Representatives impeached him by a vote of 117-1, and the Illinois Senate convicted and removed him from office by a vote of 59-0.

At that point, Blagojevich’s career came to a close. The music stopped, the curtain fell, and he exited stage left.

He’s back.

Blagojevich didn’t have a graceful exit from public life. It was disgraceful. And by the look of things, it wasn’t even an exit. Because Blagojevich wants back in the game, and back on center stage, microphone in hand.

Blagojevich served almost eight years in prison, before receiving a presidential commutation. After regaining his freedom, Blagojevich wants to regain the ability to represent the good people of Illinois. So he came back to the Dirksen Federal Building, hoping for a warmer reception and a new lease on political life.

Blagojevich unveiled a two-count pro se complaint under section 1983 and neighboring provisions, challenging the treatment that he received in the Illinois legislature. The first count seeks an injunction to “enjoin the State of Illinois and all of its component parts from enforcing the State Senate’s disqualifying provision which denies Plaintiff his right to run for office in Illinois in violation of the Sixth Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.” See Cplt., at 9 (Dckt. No. 1). The second count seeks a “declaratory judgement [sic] rendering the State Senate’s disqualifying provision as null and void because it violates the First Amendment rights of the voters of Illinois.” Id.

He adds that the “people’s right to vote is a fundamental right.” Id. And by that, Blagojevich apparently means the fundamental right to vote for him.

The complaint is riddled with problems. If the problems are fish in a barrel, the complaint contains an entire school of tuna. It is a target-rich environment. The complaint is an Issue-Spotting Wonderland.

Hilarious.

* There’s far too much to excerpt, but here’s the end…

All of these problems, and perhaps more, stand in the way of his claim. The simple reality is that federal courts have no role to play when it comes to a state impeachment. The state legislature decided to remove Blagojevich from public life, and it is not the place of a federal court to bring him back.

The case began with great fanfare. Surrounded by microphones and cameras, with a gaggle of press in tow, Blagojevich announced to the world that he might want a sequel in public life.

The book is closed. The last page already turned, and the final chapter of his public life is over. The case never should have been filed. Read generally Dr. Seuss, Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! (1972) (“The time has come. The time has come. The time is now. Just Go. Go. GO! I don’t care how. You can go by foot. You can go by cow. Marvin K. Mooney, will you please go now!”).

The case started with a megaphone, but it ends with a whimper. Sometimes cases in the federal courthouse attract publicity. But the courthouse is no place for a publicity stunt.

He wants back. But he’s already gone. Case dismissed.

Seriously, do yourself a favor and go read the whole thing. It’s as close to perfection as a human being can achieve.

…Adding… Idiocy…


If federal judges shouldn’t decide this, then why file a federal lawsuit?

There should be sanctions here.

  43 Comments      


Pritzker will visit California next week to promote quantum, manufacturing, movie production (Updated)

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

Governor Pritzker, joined by Illinois film officials and stakeholders, will depart Sunday, March 24 for an economic development mission to California to promote Illinois to business and film industry leaders. Building on the success of Illinois’ Illinois Film Production Services Tax Credit, the Governor, alongside representatives from the Illinois Film Office and Illinois Production Alliance, will meet with major studios and distributors to discuss increased opportunities for investment in Illinois.

“The strides Illinois has made in growing our film and television production sector in recent years is nothing short of remarkable, and it’s time to ensure that every production company and studio knows exactly what we can offer them here in the Land of Lincoln,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This trip will be a chance to shed a light on what the Illinois Film Production Services Tax Credit as well as our increased film infrastructure can offer companies who may be looking to expand beyond Southern California.”

“When production companies choose Illinois, they not only get the benefits of the state’s Film Production Services Tax Credit, gorgeous locations, and top-flight infrastructure across the state, they also get access to a dedicated, talented workforce,” said Christine Dudley, Executive Director of the Illinois Production Alliance. “One thing that everyone agrees on – labor, business, and government alike – is that bringing more film and television production to Illinois benefits everyone.”

“Through the competitive tax credit incentive enacted by Governor Pritzker, Illinois’ film industry is breaking records and proving its reputation as an industry leader,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “The Illinois Film Office welcomes the opportunity to tout our successes while showing Hollywood studios and companies why they should consider doing business in Illinois.”

Governor Pritzker will begin his trip in the San Francisco Bay area, meeting with business executives to promote Illinois’s investments in quantum computing and manufacturing. Following these meetings, the Governor will depart to Los Angeles for several days of meetings with film studio executives and major production companies to discuss Illinois’s tax credit for film production and other attractive incentives for the film industry. Governor Pritzker will be joined by representatives from the Illinois Film Office and the Illinois Production Alliance.

In 2022, Governor Pritzker extended the landmark film industry tax credit through 2032. The incentive program, which offers tax credits for local labor and production expenditures, has been a key factor in Illinois landing major productions. Recently Illinois broke previous records for the film industry investment with 2022 seeing $700 million in production expenditures– far exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The State’s tax credit has resulted in a $6.81 return on investment for every dollar spent on the incentive, resulting in $3.6 billion in economic activity between FY17 and FY22. 94 percent of Illinois’s current film industry economic impact is attributed to the impact of the tax credit enacted by Governor Pritzker.

Discuss.

…Adding… Sun-Times…

Pritzker also plans to fundraise for the convention’s Host Committee and for abortion rights ballot initiatives in Arizona and Nevada. The money raised would go directly towards the initiatives, not to Pritzker’s political advocacy group Think Big America, a Pritzker campaign spokeswoman said.

Pritzker in October launched the nonprofit to protect and expand abortion rights throughout the country, and has already contributed to efforts in Virginia, Nevada and Ohio.

The host committee is trying to raise between $80 million to $100 million for the August convention. Spokesman Natalie Edelstein would not disclose a fundraising tally, but said they are “well on their way” to that goal. […]

The governor’s office said Pritzker has no plans to meet with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, although his office reached out to let him know the Illinois governor would be visiting the state.

  7 Comments      


Welch announces creation of Teacher Shortage Working Group

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Press release…

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch announced Thursday the Teacher Shortage Working Group, designed to address the issue of vacancies in Illinois schools and exploring ways to recruit and retain qualified educators.

“School districts across the nation have been battling teacher shortages, and Illinois is not immune,” said Speaker Welch. “While we’ve done a lot of work in the legislature that has contributed to teacher workforce growth, we want to continue finding new ways to recruit, retain, and diversify the pool of professionals that will help shape our children’s futures.

“I’m creating the Teacher Shortage Working Group to ensure we’re doing all we can to attract qualified and passionate educators for our Illinois classrooms. I’ve chosen Rep. Katie Stuart to lead this group, not only because she is a former educator, but also because she has a proven record of working collaboratively and finding consensus-building solutions that will be necessary for a topic that is vitally important to our entire state.”

“I want to thank Speaker Welch for shining a light on the topic of teacher shortages in our schools,” said Rep. Stuart (D-Edwardsville). “There is nothing more important than our children’s futures and they all deserve access to quality education; that begins with dynamic, passionate, and skilled educators in every classroom. As a former teacher, I know we have some of the best teachers, administrators, and support staff in the country who care deeply about our children. We need to make sure they stay here, while also finding new ways to bring in more like-minded professionals who help us strengthen our education system.

“I look forward to the work ahead and the robust discussions with stakeholders from across the state to ensure we are helping our schools and students succeed.”

Members of the Teacher Shortage Working Group include:

    • Rep. Katie Stuart
    • Rep. Harry Benton
    • Rep. Sharon Chung
    • Rep. Fred Crespo
    • Rep. Will Davis
    • Rep. Laura Faver Dias
    • Rep. Michelle Mussman
    • Rep. Aaron Ortiz
    • Rep. Sue Scherer

In recent years, the legislature has passed initiatives to simplify the licensing process for educators, lower licensing fees, and create more opportunities for future educators. Illinois has raised the minimum wage for teachers to $40,000 per year, while also investing millions into early childhood education workforce development programs and teacher preparation programs. These efforts, coupled with the passage of the Evidence Based Funding model in 2018, have resulted in Illinois’ teacher workforce and paraprofessional growth year-over-year. Still, data shows the educator pipeline has not kept pace with demand in schools. The Teacher Shortage Working Group is designed to build on this progress, while helping to fill the gaps that remain.

The most recent unfilled positions report can be found on the Illinois State Board of Education website.

Welch announced the creation of a New Arrivals Working Group in January, a Medicaid Working Group last February and four others in 2022.

Thoughts on this latest working group?

  28 Comments      


Giannoulias lays out lock-down timeline, urges signup for mass notification system (Updated)

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is in charge of overseeing registered lobbyists, so they received this e-mail today…

Dear Registered Lobbyist,

At the Secretary of State’s office, we’re steadfast in ensuring the safety and security of all personnel, elected officials and visitors at the Capitol Building and Complex.

Last week, our State Capitol was placed on lock-down after a threatening call to the Sangamon County 911 Center triggered our alert system. While no threat was discovered, the event underscored the dedication and diligence of our emergency responders and the importance of emergency preparedness.

We’re proud of our Illinois Capitol Police command staff, investigators and security guards who responded to Tuesday’s threat quickly, efficiently and without hesitation. We also want to thank the Illinois State Police, Sangamon County Dispatch, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department, Springfield City Police and Springfield Park Police for their assistance and support in sweeping and securing the Capitol grounds and all buildings on the Complex.

Below is a timeline of events:

    • 1:43 p.m. — Sangamon County 911 Dispatch received the threatening message and immediately contacted the Secretary of State Police, who mobilized and deployed a SWAT team to begin securing and sweeping the Capitol Building and Complex.
    • 1:57 p.m. — All buildings were officially placed on lock-down, and the shelter-in-place protocol was initiated via the Capitol Complex’s Emergency Notification System and REGROUP mass notification system.
    • 2:16 p.m. — Secretary of State Police completed their grounds sweep and determined no threats existed outside.
    • 2:35 p.m. — Secretary of State Police completed their floor-to-floor sweep of all Capitol Complex buildings and determined no threats existed.
    • 3:00 p.m. — An all-clear message was issued via the Capitol Complex’s Emergency Notification System and REGROUP mass notification system.

We’re relieved no threat was found, but the event serves as a reminder of the dangerous world we live in and how crucial it is to be prepared for an emergency event.

That is why, the first month we took office, the administration got to work updating our Capitol Emergency Response Program, which provides an Emergency Action Guide for various emergency events and details the Lock-Down protocol. We also made sure emergency preparedness training is available to all Capitol Complex employees.

    • Our office provides Capitol Emergency Awareness training on emergency protocols for anyone who works on the Capitol Complex with regular trainings held every March and September.
    • Secretary of State Police also offers the training upon request by contacting SOSPoliceERP@ilsos.gov any time during the year.
    • You can also sign up for our REGROUP mass notification, which is one of the quickest ways to communicate emergency events.

If you have not already, we encourage everyone to sign up for a training and to receive REGROUP alerts. Despite having these services and programs available during the last several years, only a small percentage have taken advantage of them.

At the Secretary of State’s office, we plan to require our employees to enroll in an Emergency Training class upon getting hired. We also recommend that lawmakers consider requiring that they, as well as all Capitol and Complex-based employees and frequent visitors who receive entry badges, such as lobbyists and the media, also undergo the training.

We’re relieved and grateful no threat was found and appreciative of our emergency responders’ bravery. We look forward to working with all Complex employees and elected officials to ensure we’re prepared.

Stay safe and vigilant,

Alexi Giannoulias
Illinois Secretary of State

A link to the REGROUP mass notification system was included in the email.

Anyway, your thoughts on the timeline and explanation?

…Adding… Legislative leaders and the governor’s office received a similar email on Monday. So, staff and members should be notified by them.

  11 Comments      


It’s just a bill

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ABC Chicago…

The Let Parents Choose Protection Act gained momentum on Wednesday in the Illinois General Assembly.

House Bill 5380, also known as Sammy’s Law, is named after 16-year-old Sammy Chapman.

The teen died after buying fentanyl-laced drugs on Snapchat and having them delivered to his home.

Sammy’s Law would mandate social media platforms to provide data to a third-party software for parents to track their children online.

* WGEM…

The bill, which passed unanimously out of the House Consumer Protection Committee, would require large social media companies like TikTok, Snapchat and Meta, which is Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, to use third-party software companies that would alert them if their kid is getting cyber bullied, talking about suicide, buying drugs or potentially other dangerous activity on the platform.

“Social media has become a five-alarm fire for our kids, and lawmakers have been too slow to react. Our laws are outdated. They haven’t kept pace with technology. It’s only now that we’re discovering that tech has had this ability to target our children for years,” said state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenveiw, the bill’s sponsor.

She said similar legislation has been filed in California and at the federal level.

The bill would give the Illinois Attorney General’s Office the power to go after large social media companies that don’t comply. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul also voiced support for the legislation.

* Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights…

On March 21st, 500+ immigrants and allies from across Illinois will gather in Springfield to advocate for key budget demands and legislation that directly impact immigrant communities. Attendees will rally outside the Capitol to demand funding for Immigrant Services through the Immigrant Service Line Item (ISLI) and passing the Work Without Fear Act (HB5071).

Full Demands Include:

    - Immigrant Service Line Item (ISLI) - Immigrant community organizations are demanding $40 million for essential services such as interpretation and translation, citizenship assistance, and DACA scholarships;
    - Work Without Fear Act (HB 5071) - This legislation aims to protect workers from immigration-based retaliation, ensuring that all workers can assert their rights without fear of consequences related to their immigration status;
    - Healthcare for All - Reopen enrollment and ensure long-term stability for the Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors and Adults programs as part of the push for healthcare for all;
    - Child Tax Credit - Enact a Child Tax Credit that benefits as many families as possible, including those who file their taxes using an ITIN;
    - State Guaranteed Income Pilot Program - Create a state level guaranteed income program targeted at Moms & Babies program participants, those who are unhoused, and those reentering the community after incarceration;
    - Revenue - Increased revenue is needed to ensure that all families across the state have access to healthcare, childcare, education, and economic opportunity.

* One Fair Wage…

This Thursday, March 21st at 11:30 AM CDT, service industry workers, restaurant owners, and local and national advocacy leaders will hold a State Capitol Rally ahead of a crucial vote by the House Labor Committee to advance HB 5345, legislation ensuring tipped workers in Illinois earn a full and fair minimum wage with tips on top. The push for statewide legislation follows the passage of a historic ordinance in Chicago that abolishes the subminimum wage for tipped employees throughout the nation’s third-largest city.

Thursday’s rally, hosted by One Fair Wage and the Illinois Full and Fair Wage Coalition, will include a brief speaker program. Immediately following the rally, workers and advocates will kick off a Labor Lobby Day to meet with committee members before their afternoon hearing on the historic subminimum wage bill.

Leaders and representatives from several local and national advocacy and labor organizations will participate in the rally and lobby day, including: Chicago Teachers Union; AFL-CIO (Cicero, IL Chapter); SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana; RAISE: High Road Restaurants; Our Revolution; Arise Chicago; Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Chicago Workers Collaborative; Raise the Floor Alliance; Shriver Center on Poverty Law; The People’s Lobby; Women Employed; Workers Center for Racial Justice; Warehouse Workers For Justice; National Organization for Women (Chicago Chapter); and AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

* John Downs, president and CEO, National Confectioners Association…

While there has been significant attention given to the proposed food and color additive bans in Illinois and states across the country, the unfortunate reality is that those supporting these proposals are knowingly using inaccuracies and falsehoods to scare consumers and destroy the Food and Drug Administration, including the author of a recent Chicago Sun-Times opinion column.

Here are the facts:

First, all color additives must be approved by the FDA without exception. It is currently reviewing red dye 3 and titanium dioxide with results expected in 2024. Earlier this month, the agency added potassium bromate and propylparaben to their science-based review process. In the case of brominated vegetable oil, FDA conducted its own studies and has initiated steps to remove BVO from the U.S. food supply. This is how our food safety system was designed to work, and it’s a real-time example of it working.

Second, no authoritative body in the world has identified any safety concerns with the use of red dye 3 in food, including FDA, the European Food Safety Authority and JECFA (a United Nations/World Health Organization committee). Although there are broader uses permitted in the U.S., the European Union has determined red Dye 3 is safe in certain products.

Third, FDA deemed titanium dioxide safe in 2021, and JECFA agreed in October 2023. Highly regarded food agencies from the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have confirmed that titanium dioxide is safe to use in food.

* CPS Parents for Buses Coalition…

he CPS Parents for Buses coalition has sent the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education a letter signed by twenty-six alderpeople urging CPS to enact solutions to ease the hardship that CPS’s decision to cancel busing for students in magnet and selective enrollment students has caused constituents in their wards. Alderman Matt Martin of the 47th ward worked collaboratively with CPS Parents for Buses to draft the letter. […]

Additionally, we ask that CPS work in collaboration with parent advocates to influence state legislators and the Illinois Secretary of State to pass laws and regulations that facilitate driver recruitment. Below are four examples of such action that could increase the number of drivers available to CPS:

    -Implement the Federal “Under-the-Hood Waiver” to increase the number of eligible drivers by allowing prospective bus drivers to skip the onerous requirement of physically lifting the hood of the bus and identifying parts of the engine;
    -Pass HB3476 to enable HopSkipDrive to come to Illinois;
    -Offer more Commercial Drivers License (CDL) certification dates/times; and
    Offer CDL certification exams in Spanish.

* Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel…

In an effort to bring equity to funding for special education students, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel passed a measure through the Senate Education Committee that would create a fair reimbursement rate for special education day schools.

“Since I became a state senator, I’ve been working to level the playing field to ensure our students get a quality education in the least restrictive environment,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “We have to ensure every child receives the education they deserve, no matter their ZIP code.”

Senate Bill 3606 would equalize the reimbursement rate received by public school districts from the Illinois State Board of Education when sending high-needs special education students to private and public special education day schools.

Under Loughran Cappel’s measure, public schools would be eligible to receive a reimbursement from ISBE for tuition costs for high-needs special education students that exceed the average cost for students not receiving special education services. […]

Senate Bill 3606 passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.

* Center Square…

A state lawmaker is concerned about people taking their pets to the shelter post-pandemic, where workers may have to resort to euthanasia.

Senate Bill 3791 from state Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago, would make it illegal to euthanize dogs and cats in Illinois, which animal shelter groups say could further harm animals and taxpayers.

Lauren Malmberg with the Illinois Animal Control Association said there would be higher costs for everyone. Animal control services provide programs that are funded by taxpayers, but the legislation directly impacts shelters, which means donors might pay more too. […] Malmberg said she’s had a 40-year career in helping animals. When she began, the estimation was 18-20 million dogs and cats being euthanized. But now it’s less than a million. In Illinois, intake data shows a 94% to 96% live-release rate. So less than 10% of dogs and cats entering Illinois shelters are being euthanized.

  9 Comments      


Open thread

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on?…

  11 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Progress report? Election brings mix of cheers and tears for Chicago progressives. Sun-Times…

    -In a low-turnout election with thousands of mail ballots that could still be counted, Johnson’s prized “Bring Chicago Home” referendum appears headed for rejection.
    -The CTU-backed Clayton Harris III is narrowly trailing Eileen O’Neill Burke in the still undecided Cook County state’s attorney’s race.
    -Graciela Guzmán knocked out appointed incumbent Natalie Toro with a $2.5 million campaign fund in the 20th District state Senate seat.

* Related stories…

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Tahman Bradley…



* Here’s the rest…

    * Capitol News Illinois | For the most part, incumbents beat back challengers amid low primary turnout: Although final numbers won’t be known for several more days, preliminary returns from many of the state’s larger counties showed turnout hovering in the range of 20-25 percent. That compares to a statewide average of 47 percent in 2016, when the White House was an open race, and 28 percent during the pandemic-impacted primaries in 2020.

    * ABC Chicago | Correcting Stateville Correction Center’s critical problems: ‘Decrepit, unsafe, and inhumane’: “It was a little disappointing to hear only rebuilding without any closures announced, given the state of the system,” said Jennifer Vollen-Katz, the Executive Director of the John Howard Association “Our [prison] population is under 30,000. We have a prison system that can hold over 42,000 individuals.”

    * Tribune | Illinois moves to make it easier for schools to get asthma inhalers: Illinois first passed a law in 2018 that allowed schools to keep inhalers on-hand in case a student or staff member without their own inhaler needed it. But until now, if a school wanted an asthma inhaler to keep on-hand for anyone — as opposed to for a specific student with a prescription — it had to find a local physician willing to issue a standing order for the school. The new standing order covers schools statewide.

    * WBEZ | Winner of Cook County state’s attorney primary may not be decided until end of the week — or later: Eleven of the city’s 1,291 precincts still have not reported their totals in the race between Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III after officials announced Wednesday evening that they had added unofficial results from nine more precincts of the 20 that were not immediately available on election night. Election officials said judges in those precincts left before the results were “properly transmitted.”

    * Crain’s | Johnson, defiant after ‘Bring Chicago Home’ loss, vows agenda push will ‘get stronger’: While the supporters have called for all outstanding mail-in ballots to be counted before officially conceding, the lead City Council sponsors of the measure and Johnson spoke in resigned terms about the unlikelihood the outcome will change.

    * Tribune | Founder of employment law firm donates $100,000 toward Chicago’s migrant crisis: Instituto del Progreso Latino, a decades-old nonprofit organization that provides education, training and employment resources to Latino communities, received the donation from David Fish, founder of the law firm Fish Potter Bolaños, P.C. The funds will support the organization’s Asylum Migrant Outreach Response, called Project AMOR.

    * Tribune | Judge’s ruling on Chicago police discipline expected this week after court arguments: A Cook County judge will issue a ruling this week in the lawsuit brought by the city’s largest police union that seeks to enforce an arbitration award that would allow the most serious police misconduct cases to be decided behind closed doors. About two months after the lawsuit was filed, along with hundreds of pages of motions and exhibits, attorneys for the Fraternal Order of Police and the city on Wednesday presented about an hour of oral arguments to Judge Michael Mullen at the Daley Center.

    * Bloomberg | Republicans Call for Retirement Age Hike in Clash With Biden: The Republican Study Committee, which comprises about 80% of House Republicans, called for the Social Security eligibility age to be tied to life expectancy in its fiscal 2025 budget proposal. It also suggests reducing benefits for top earners who aren’t near retirement, including a phase-out of auxiliary benefits for the highest earners. The proposal sets the stage for an election-year fight with Biden, who accused Republicans of going after popular entitlement programs during his State of the Union address.

    * SJ-R | Popular sandwich shop ready to open first Springfield location: Potbelly Sandwich Works first announced plans to bring the Chicago sub shop to the Capital City in 2022. This spring the brand bursts on the scene with the first of three anticipated stores and a food truck. Potbelly Sandwich Works will begin serving up its toasted sub sandwiches Tuesday from the ground floor of the Memorial Learning Center on the Memorial Health campus.

    * NYT | When Cicadas Emerge, Things Might Get a Little Wet: “It’s this beautiful physics-of-life perspective” to see all the data laid out in a single graph, said Saad Bhamla, a bioengineer at the Georgia Institute of Technology, who was a co-author of the study. The jets of urine that cicadas produce, the research shows, have a velocity of up to 3 meters per second — the fastest of all the animals assessed in the new work, including mammals like elephants and horses.

    * WMBD | Governor in Peoria: Illinois’ tourism industry is booming: “Last year alone, I think you know Illinois’ hotel industry set a record of $5.5 billion in revenue, for a total tourism industry economic impact of $78 billion, just here in the State of Illinois,” Pritzker told conference attendees. Pritzker – referred to by Discover Peoria’s JD Dalfanso as the “Chief Marketing Officer” of the state – says the new “Illinois: in the Middle of Everything” campaign certainly helped, but local tourism leaders weathered the pandemic storm very well.

    * NYT | Eclipses Injured Their Eyes, and the World Never Looked the Same: When Dr. Deobhakta examined her eyes, he was astonished. He saw a burn on her retina that was exactly the same shape. It was “almost like a branding,” he said. She had looked at the sun during the eclipse without any protection. The burn was an image of the sun’s outer edge.

    * Block Club | The Tomato Man’s Annual Plant Sale Is Back And Bigger Than Ever: Zeni has spent the past decade growing tomato plants in his suburban greenhouse and distributing them throughout the Chicago area. His annual sale has grown each year, with more than 7,000 tomato plants sold in 2023. He expects to sell about 10,000 this year, he told Block Club.

  31 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Thursday, Mar 21, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.

  Comments Off      


Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Sun-Times…

As of 6:15 a.m. Wednesday, with 83% of the estimated votes counted, O’Neill Burke was leading with 51% to Harris’s 49%, according to the Associated Press. O’Neill Burke led in the suburbs by about eight points with all precincts reporting, according to the Cook County Clerk’s Office. In the city, Harris was ahead by just over two points with 1,271 of 1,291 precincts reporting. […]

Harris spent most of [Tuesday] evening sequestered in a room next to the bar with his family and pastor and a handful of campaign staff. A few supporters could be heard parsing vote tallies and the number of mail-in votes outstanding.

Toni Preckwinkle showed up late and met briefly with Harris, whom she had backed, and expressed confidence that a win was possible with mail-in votes still uncounted.

“The party does pretty well with mail-in ballots,” said Preckwinkle

[From Rich: We’ll see. Harris’ 9,377 vote deficit is a very big hurdle to overcome.]

From the Chicago Board of Elections…

Board staff are completing the first round of scanning Vote By Mail ballots received on Election Day (and rejecting for signature, other etc.) in preparation for election judges to review, initial, and count tomorrow, 3/21/24. We expect that big drop of Vote By Mail ballot results to be added to the unofficial results, tomorrow, Thurs. 3/21/24 by 5pm.

New VBM results will be added to the unofficial results on a daily basis moving forward, nearer to 4pm to 5pm at the end of the day. Ultimately, the picture for contests will be much clearer by this weekend.

Also, 20 precincts were unable to report last night because election judges did not or could not properly transmit results and left the site before that could happen (it’s a long day for them). The ballot scanner SD cards are being retrieved to check against paper ballots and we hope to have 100% of precincts reporting by tonight, but possibly tomorrow morning.

There will be an updated By Ward Outstanding Vote By Mail ballot count today once we have the numbers for VBM ballots received yesterday and today. I will share this info as soon as I get it.

* Chicago Magazine last month…

Emma Tai
Activist and Organizer

Paul Vallas’s supporters may have written big checks, but United Working Families volunteers knocked on doors past dusk for its mayoral candidate, Brandon Johnson. His upset victory, which marked the transition of Chicago politics from a ward machine model to one based on community organizing, was a triumph for Tai, who served as UWF’s executive director. Her next mission? Passing March’s Bring Chicago Home ballot initiative, one of the most important items on Johnson’s agenda. Tai, 39, tells Chicago she was recruited as campaign director by “a number of folks close to that effort in labor, community, and on the mayor’s team. Several people told me I was ‘the only one who could do it.’ ”

* Senate Democrats press release…

E-cigarette use is rising dramatically among Illinois teens – with the newest culprit of the epidemic being vapes that look highlighters, markers and other school supplies.

During a press conference Thursday, State Senators Julie Morrison and Meg Loughran Cappel will outline their plan to curb the youth vaping epidemic.

WHO: State Senators Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) and Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood), Joliet Township High School District 204 Board President Michelle Stiff, ComWell Behavioral Health Services Executive Director Shea Haury, and ComWell Behavioral Health Services Youth Prevention Coordinator Dennis Trask

WHAT: Press conference on protecting youth from e-cigarettes

WHEN: Thursday, March 21 at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Blue Room, Illinois State Capitol and live on BlueRoomStream.com

* Illinois Stewardship Allliance…

Local food is getting an important shot in the arm with the distribution this spring of nearly $2 million in state funding. But it’s clear more support is needed to meet the state’s growing local needs.

At a Statehouse news conference, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance today joined with top state officials, a bi-partisan group of state legislators and some of the recipients of the inaugural Local Food Infrastructure grants to support the development of the state’s local food network.

The 19 recipients cover all parts of Illinois and a wide array of creative and essential projects that help local farmers and growers get more products to more markets, more easily and cost effectively. A full list of recipients and their stories is included below:

    - Leaf Food Hub, helping a dozen southern Illinois farms reach local communities. The $82,871.09 granted will help purchase equipment needed to reduce waste, improve farmer revenue and feed more people
    - Tulip Tree Gardens, which will use a $59,900 grant to increase distribution and aggregation access for farmers in Chicago’s north and south suburbs
    - Funks Grove Heritage Fruits and Grains, whose $72,124.16 grant will help them dry, clean and store grain and provide grain and other cold storage to expand operations in the Bloomington area in central Illinois
    - DeMange Family Farms, which will use $106,000 in LFIG funding to build an energy-efficient produce packing and storage building to increase production and improve what it can offer at farm stands in the Metro East near St. Louis […]

After a two-month grant application process in December and January, the response was overwhelming: 247 applicants submitted more than $23.5 million in funding requests – or more than 10 times the amount of money available to distribute this year.

The LFIG program was not proposed for funding in the state budget Gov. Pritzker presented to lawmakers for consideration last month. Advocates are now pushing for Senate Bill 3077 in the Illinois Senate, which would create an ongoing LFIG grant program of at least $2 million each year to support infrastructure needs.

* Tribune…

For over a year, two of Kelly’s four children have been caught in the middle of a bitter special education dispute between their parents and the Highland Park/Highwood school district. Hezekiah, 13, has autism and is nonverbal, and has been out of school since June 2023. And with few exceptions, his sister Ke’Asia, 8, also evaluated as having autism, has been without a school since October 2022.

North Shore leaders say the children’s behavioral needs require the relatively rare step of seeking specialized instruction outside of district schools. But, they say the siblings’ parents have repeatedly rejected the district’s exhaustive efforts to meet its legal requirement and place Hezekiah and Ke’Asia, at the district’s expense, in one of the few private therapeutic day schools with space or ability to accept them. […]

Kelly and the children’s father, Fredrick Bass, 51, say their kids are being tossed aside by a school district that is unwilling or unable to properly educate them. Instead, they say, District 112 is trying to force them to accept schools that are too far — some are at least an hour from the family’s Highland Park home, a concerning distance in an emergency for two parents who don’t drive — or that use restraint and isolation tactics they feel are unsafe.

Special education experts say the family’s quarrel with District 112 — while unusual in its duration and intensity — highlights the pitfalls of a special education system stressed by the COVID-19 pandemic, plagued by staff turnover and hampered by a lack of robust training needed to meet behavioral challenges in students.

* Here’s the rest…

  18 Comments      


A very quick look at a few congressional primaries

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Probably at the heart of the Bost vs. Bailey race…

On Tuesday afternoon at the only polling place in Freeburg, a handful of voters told the BND they picked Bost because he was the Trump-endorsed candidate. But another voter said they picked Bailey because his campaign signs promised he “fights like Trump.”

Bost is leading Bailey by 2.8 percentage points, 51.4-48.6, or 2,590 votes. If Bailey had snagged that Trump endorsement, it would’ve been over. But Bost ably used every connection and lever he had to secure the nod.

* ABC7…

Three-term U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García has won [69.1-30.9] the Democratic primary against Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez, the Associated Press projected. […]

Lopez had argued García is no longer the right fit for Illinois’ 4th Congressional District, which is predominantly Hispanic and includes working-class communities and neighborhoods on the city’s Southwest Side as well as wealthy suburbs.

Delia Ramirez’s primary opponent said the same thing about her two years ago, and it was hyped in the media as well. But, like Ramirez, US Rep. Garcia did better in the suburbs than in the city…

* Two years ago, US Rep. Danny Davis defeated Kina Collins by an unexpectedly narrow 52-46 margin. This time, Davis saw it coming and fought back hard. But he only increased his total yesterday by a single percentage point, to 53. Also, unlike 2022, Davis faced more than one serious challenger, and the rule for primaries is the more, the merrier because they dilute the opposition…

A defiant Davis called out critics who’d said he was “getting scared” in his five-way race, claiming the incumbent had to call the “big guns” of the Illinois Democratic Party to help him across the finish line.

“Let me tell you, I helped make the big guns,” Davis said to cheers at his campaign headquarters across the street from his East Garfield Park office.

“And all of these prognosticators — all of those who thought the people of my community would not recognize the work that we’ve done practically all of our adult life — I am so affirmed that the people know the work that we’ve done,” Davis said.

* This challenge from US Rep. Foster’s hard left failed miserably. Foster is up 77-23…

Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster of Naperville, who often notes he’s the “only physicist in Congress,” defeated a progressive challenger in Tuesday’s primary in the suburban and exurban 11th Congressional District.

The Associated Press called the race for Foster a little before 8:30 p.m.

Civil rights attorney Qasim Rashid, also of Naperville, previously ran unsuccessfully for public office in Virginia, including a failed congressional bid in 2020. Like other progressives challenging incumbent Chicago-area Democrats this year, Rashid made calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war a central theme of his campaign.

Rashid also championed universal health care and other progressive causes.

The UAW endorsed Rashid at one point, but then pulled it and went with the incumbent.

Rashid was terminally online.

  12 Comments      


Live blog

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* We’ll post press releases, etc. with reactions to primary results here…

  3 Comments      


Question of the day

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* What primary result(s) surprised you the most? Explain.

  37 Comments      


Primary race updates

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* AP calls it for US Rep. Mike Bost…


From the Sun-Times…

Five-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Bost fended off a challenge from ultra-right farmer turned politician Darren Bailey in a turf war over the state’s most conservative congressional district.

With 96% of the votes counted, Bost led Bailey 51.4% to 48.6% in the downstate 12th Congressional District, according to Associated Press estimates. AP called the race on Wednesday morning.

Bost declared victory at about 9:41 p.m. on Tuesday, and Bailey conceded about 15 minutes later.

Bost thanked former President Donald Trump for his endorsement in his victory speech in downstate Murphysboro — and urged Republicans to “unite and work together.”

“Because if we’re going to turn this ship … in the right direction, we have to take a larger majority of the House. We have to take the Senate. We need a president to guide us, from that Republican party.”

More from Tina…

* Here’s the updated list for AP declared winners…

IL Supreme Court 1- Joy Cunningham

SB19- Samantha Gasca
SD20- Graciela Guzman
SD37- Liandro Arellano
SD40- Sen. Patrick Joyce
SD53- Chris Balkema
SD58- Sen. Terri Bryant

HD4- Rep. Lilian Jimenez
HD5- Rep. Kimberly Neely DuBluclet
HD6- Rep. Sonya Harper
HD 21- Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid
HD22- Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar
HD23- Rep. Edgar Gonzalez
HD24- Rep. Theresa Mah
HD27- Rep. Justin Slaughter
HD29- Thaddeus Jones
HB31 - Mike Crawford (vs. Rep. Flowers)
HD35- Rep. Mary Gill
HD36- Rick Ryan
HD49- Hannah Billingsley
HD76- Amy Briel (D)
HD83- Matt Hanson
HD88- Regan Deering
HD99- Kyle Moore
HD105- Rep. Dennis Tipsword
HD107- Brad Halbrook
HD110- Rep. Blaine Wilhour
HD116- Rep. Dave Severin

US House 4- Rep. Chuy Garcia
US House 6- Rep. Sean Casten
US House 7- Rep. Danny Davis
US House 11- Rep. Bill Foster
US House 12- Rep. Mike Bost

Cook County Circuit Court- Mariyana Spyropoulos
Cook County Commissioner- Tara Stamps

* Eileen O’Neill Burke is maintaining a close lead against Clayton Harris…

* 79% of votes are counted for Bring Chicago Home…

* Heather Cherone…

* Effingham Daily News…

Incumbent state representatives Brad Halbrook and Blaine Wilhour appeared to win their Republican primaries, according to unofficial results. […]

“The far-left teachers’ unions put hundreds of thousands of dollars up against me to try to silence and intimidate me,” Wilhour said in a statement Tuesday night. “Well, there was a message sent and it was not exactly the one my opponents wanted. Voters put the influence peddlers and political insiders on notice that the money they put behind their hand-picked candidates is toxic. I won by a landslide. Now I am sending a message to the far-left activists who tried to defeat me – I will not be silenced, and I will continue to fight for the values of my district.”

IEA President Al Llorens…

“While this race is over, tonight is certainly not the end of IEA’s collective efforts to defeat anti-public education candidates who attack our union. We will stop at nothing to make our schools and our communities better for our students, which means we will continue to harness the power of our 135,000 members to advocate for candidates who support public education and workers’ rights. The IEA will remain engaged, keep fighting for what we believe in, and never lose sight of what unites us.”

* More…

  26 Comments      


Open thread

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

  30 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s homelessness plan appears headed to defeat. Sun-Times…

    - Bring Chicago Home would have authorized the City Council to raise the real estate transfer tax on high-end property transactions to generate an estimated $100 million in annual revenue to combat homelessness.
    -The vote was 53.7% to 46.3%, with 98.2% of precincts counted.
    - Opponents of Bring Chicago Home tied the referendum to the Mayor, questioning Johnson’s handling of crime and asylum-seekers.

* Related stories…

* Isabel’s top picks…

Governor Pritzker will give remarks at the Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism at 11 am. Click here to watch.

* Here’s something interesting from last night’s primary…



* Here’s the rest…

    * Tribune | General Assembly races test clout of Democrat leaders: Without having to worry about losing their supermajorities in the fall’s general election, both Democratic leaders made heavy political and financial investments in two bare-knuckled legislative contests based in Chicago. Welch, the state’s first Black speaker, put his reputation on the line as he took aim at the dean of the General Assembly — Rep. Mary Flowers, an African American South Sider who joined the House in 1985 as a fervent ally of Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black mayor.

    * WBEZ | Mariyana Spyropoulos beats Democratic incumbent in race for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk: Spyropoulos, a commissioner on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District board who had far more campaign contributions and the backing of the county Democratic Party, had 65% of the vote, compared to Martinez’ 35%, with 99% of precincts reporting.

    * Sun-Times | Party-backed newcomer Crawford defeats longtime Democratic state Rep. Flowers in primary: Newcomer Crawford, 41, had the backing of Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch. In an unusual move that was a test of his own political muscle, Welch threw his support and money behind Crawford in the primary and helped him defeat a politician who first took office when Harold Washington was mayor of Chicago.

    * STLPR | Bost defeats Bailey in Illinois’ 12th District GOP primary, Loyd leads in the 13th: “We’ve been doing this for quite a few years and most times, it’s in a general election,” Bost said during his victory party at Brews Brothers Taproom in Murphysboro. “And when you do it in a primary, unfortunately, it’s friends on friends.” While Bailey won big in the eastern part of the 12th Congressional District, Bost won by huge margins in the Metro East — including landslides in Monroe and St. Clair counties. He also pummeled Bailey in Jackson County, which includes Carbondale.

    * Tribune | Mary Gill, Thaddeus Jones claim victory as incumbents prevail in south and southwest suburban legislative primaries: “I am so proud to continue to serve the 35th district,” Democratic incumbent Mary Gill said in a text message. “I have a lot of plans for the coming years and I couldn’t be more grateful to all my supporters.” AP reported she had 84% of the vote with 80% counted as of 9:45 p.m. This is the first election Gill has run. Last year, she was appointed to replace Fran Hurley who was tapped by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to the Illinois Labor Relations Board.

    * Sun-Times | Trump goes on ‘hamburger offensive’ against J.B. Pritzker: Add Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to the long list of people who ex-President Donald Trump is demonizing, taunting him at a rally last weekend in Vandalia, Ohio — about his weight. About eating too many hamburgers, not that Trump would know. He makes stuff up. And people believe him. And that’s where we are dangerously stuck. Tuesday’s Illinois victories of Trump and President Joe Biden only rubber stamped how they already clinched their respective nominations in earlier primary states.

    * Sun-Times | Joy Virginia Cunningham declares victory in Illinois Supreme Court primary: Associated Press results naming Cunningham as the victor had throughout the evening showed Cunningham commanding a consistent lead with about 75% of the vote to Reyes’ 25%.

    * WLPO | Briel Wins Democratic Primary In Race To Replace Yednock: Briel who has served as chief of staff for Democrat Lance Yednock, now gets a chance to take his place in Springfield after edging DeKalb-based Democratic challengers Cohen Barnes and Carolyn “Morris” Zasada. Unofficial vote totals have Briel with 2,356 votes between La Salle, DeKalb and Bureau counties. Barnes unofficially had 2,077 votes with Zasada close behind at 2,038.

    * Aurora Beacon-News | Voters in Kane County cast ballots in contested recorder race, county board contests: The Democratic primary for county recorder featured Brenda Rodgers and Marisela Villegas, with the winner to face Republican incumbent Sandy Wegman, who was unopposed in the GOP primary, in the November general election. According to unofficial final results from the Kane County Clerk’s Office, Villegas had 45.9% of the vote to 44% for Rodgers.

    * WBEZ | Veteran Cook County tax appeals board commissioner holds off challenger: With 92% of precincts reporting, Rogers had 62% of the vote to 38% for challenger Larecia Tucker. Rogers’ victory marked a massive setback for Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money to try to defeat Rogers.

    * WBEZ | Appeals court upholds $1.1 million for investigator who refused to change findings on CPD shootings: Lorenzo Davis, 74, was fired in 2015 from his job as a supervising investigator of the Independent Police Review Authority, now known as the Civilian Office of Police Accountability. The whistleblowing that cost his job came months before police misconduct became a hot public topic in Chicago — a shift prompted by the court-ordered release of video showing the police killing of teenager Laquan McDonald.

    * Sun-Times | With nearly 6,000 new migrants this year, CPS chief supports boost in bilingual education: Boosting bilingual education includes increasing teachers with training and certifications in the field and more tutoring for Spanish-speaking students in schools without bilingual teachers. Martinez said those nearly 6,000 students need a lot of academic support. They often lack stable housing, basic necessities, proper clothes or school supplies.

    * Crain’s | Measles cases in Chicago rise to 15: The three additional cases are all residents of the city’s largest migrant shelter at 2241 S. Halsted St. in the Pilsen neighborhood, a CDPH spokesman said in an emailed statement. So far, 13 residents of the Halsted Street shelter have been confirmed to have measles, and two residents from other areas of the city have been confirmed to be infected.

    * Sun-Times | 19 Chicago-area organizations receive millions from MacKenzie Scott’s ‘Yield Giving’: Scott, through her “Yield Giving” venture, announced $640 million in donations to nonprofits across the country, including 19 Chicago-area organizations focusing on topics from housing to immigration and grassroots activism.

    * Sun-Times | Chicago’s Cultural Affairs department gets a new boss, just in time for summer events: So it’s good that Mayor Brandon Johnson this week has selected Clinée Hedspeth as the city’s new Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events commissioner. We don’t yet know enough about Hedspeth to judge her abilities as commissioner. But we’re glad to see the department get a leader a month after Johnson showed the door to the agency’s last boss (but kept her aboard until last Friday), the capable Erin Harkey.

    * Illinois Times | Big plans for the budget: The final fiscal 2023 budget for Springfield city government includes $6 million to purchase seven new fire vehicles and $10 million to build three new fire stations.

    * SJ-R | Springfield residents, council members frustrated after trash, yard waste go uncollected: Trash not being picked up for weeks — or at all in some cases — has Springfield residents and council members upset. Those issues were discussed during a recent Committee of the Whole meeting in Springfield as contract negotiations continue between the city and Republic Services.

    * Sun-Times | USC QB Caleb Williams to show Bears what he can do: On Wednesday morning, general manager Ryan Poles and a cadre of Bears officials will watch their most likely choice in person: USC quarterback Caleb Williams. After deciding not to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine, he’s expected to do so during USC’s pro day at Katherine B. Loker Track Stadium on campus.

    * Champaign Room | Illinois has the hardest road to the Final Four: For starters, UConn, who is the No. 1 seed in the East, is fresh off a Big East Tournament title. Not only that, but the Huskies finished this season as the No. 1 ranked team in the final AP Poll and they’re also riding a seven-game win streak. Oh, and did I mention they won the national championship last year? Their track record is pretty much self explanatory.

    * Sun-Times | Amtrak’s California Zephyr turns 75 and is still chugging: “It’s legendary. I had to see it for myself,” Adam McBride, a waiter from Philadelphia, said before embarking on the 51 hour and 20 minute journey. With any luck, he’ll be able to look out the window and see the bald eagles that are known to hang out along the Mississippi River as the train passes from Illinois into Iowa.

  36 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.

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Isabel’s election night coverage roundup

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Starting off with the Illinois General Assembly…

    * Sun-Times | Party-backed newcomer Crawford defeats longtime Democratic state Rep. Flowers in primary: “I did not lose. Our democracy lost, when you take into consideration all they had to do to destroy me,” Flowers said after the election was called for her opponent. Referring to the large amount of money put into the race, she added: “Can you imagine all we could have done in the Auburn Gresham area with that money?”

    * SJ-R | Uncontested in the primary, local state legislature candidates advance to November: Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, won by a significant margin over challenger Wesley Kash in the 58th Senate District. With no Democrats in the race, Tuesday’s result in all practical matters decided who will represent the district. Bryant has served in the General Assembly since 2015 and in the Senate since 2021.

    * Effingham Daily News | Halbrook, Wilhour win GOP primaries for General Assembly: “The far-left teachers’ unions put hundreds of thousands of dollars up against me to try to silence and intimidate me,” Wilhour said in a statement Tuesday night. “Well, there was a message sent and it was not exactly the one my opponents wanted. Voters put the influence peddlers and political insiders on notice that the money they put behind their hand-picked candidates is toxic. I won by a landslide. Now I am sending a message to the far-left activists who tried to defeat me – I will not be silenced, and I will continue to fight for the values of my district.”

    * PJ Star | Former Dixon mayor wins Republican primary for Illinois Senate 37th District: With 82% of precincts reporting around 10 p.m., the race was called for Arellano Jr. He garnered about 52% of the vote. Tim Yager of Geneseo trailed him with 31% of the votes, and Chris Bishop of Dixon was in third with 17% of votes.

    * Herald-Whig | Moore coasts to win for Illinois House seat nomination: Former Quincy Mayor Kyle Moore defeated Cass County Board Member Eric Snellgrove to secure the Republican nomination for the seat in the Illinois House of Representatives’ 99th District. “I appreciate all the voters in the five counties of the 99th District who came out to support us,” Moore said Tuesday. “There’s still the general election to get through. But we’ve been overwhelmed by the support, not just here in Adams County but throughout the whole district.”

    * Daily Herald | Hanson cruises to victory in Democratic primary for 83rd state House seat: As of 9:50 p.m. Tuesday, Hanson had captured 3,847 votes, according to unofficial tallies from Kane and Kendall counties. His primary opponent, Arad Boxenbaum, had 1,838 votes. The Associated Press projected Hanson as the winner less than two hours after the polls closed.

    * WICS | Regan Deering elected as State Representative for District 88: In a statement, Deering says, I’m really grateful for a win in the primary here tonight, I’m really humbled by the trust placed in me by the 1000s of voters that I have met and talked with throughout the 88th district… I give them my commitment to working hard for conservative values, and being a change agent in Springfield We have high taxes, inflation, and, border policy that’s affecting Illinois and we’ve had lots of conversations about great education here in Decatur. So there’s work to be done, and I’m really excited to look forward to, you know, solution-oriented problem-solving when I get to Springfield.

    * WAND | Lawmakers react to Primary Results: Brad Halbrook released the following statement after winning his reelection campaign for State Representative in the 107th District. “I am deeply honored by the voters’ trust in me,” said Halbrook. “This resounding victory belongs to all who believe in safeguarding our freedoms and ensuring a prosperous future for Illinois.

    * WGEM | Moore wins Republican primary for 99th House District state rep: Moore is vying for Representative Randy Frese’s spot, who announced in September that he won’t be running for reelection. There is no Democratic candidate for state representative in the 99th House district.

* Supreme Court…

* Congress…

* Chicago and Cook County…

* Other local elections…

  6 Comments      


Live coverage blog

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* This app has been tested, but I don’t know if it’ll withstand our traffic. We’ll use it for results, etc. through the night as long as it holds up…

  20 Comments      


Election night central

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The @ChicagoBars account has set up an Xtwitter feed of Chicago and state reporters. Click here to watch. Our usual live feed is here. Sun-Times and WBEZ reporters are live-blogging the election here.

* Election results websites…

You can use this post as an election night open thread.

  13 Comments      


Late afternoon/evening precinct reports

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* These are some of the most-read comments of the year, so tell us what’s happening out there. Make sure to let us know where you are. Thanks!

We’ll have links to election results and more tonight.

  33 Comments      


Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated x2)

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

…Adding… Chicago Board of Elections…

Please see below for the updated Chicago Voter Turnout as of 5:00pm on Election Day, 3/19/24:

287,621 total ballots cast (includes EV and VBM)
1,697,498 active registered voters in Chicago
16.94% citywide turnout so far

Ballots Cast By Age Group:

17 -24: 8,987 ballots cast – 3.12%
25-34: 35,094 ballots cast – 12.20%
35-44: 38,530 ballots cast – 13.40%
45-54: 39,382 ballots cast – 13.69%
55-64: 55,811 ballots cast – 19.40%
65-74: 64,084 ballots cast – 22.28%
75+: 45,733 ballots cast – 15.90%

Ballots Cast Per Hour:

6:00am-7:00am: 3,043 ballots cast
7:00am-8:00am: 5,031 ballots cast
8:00am-9:00am: 9,196 ballots cast
9:00am-10:00am: 9,143 ballots cast
10:00am-11:00am: 9,974 ballots cast
11:00am-12:00pm: 11,505 ballots cast
12:00pm-1:00pm: 11,994 ballots cast
1:00pm-2:00pm: 12,393 ballots cast
2:00pm-3:00pm: 12,368 ballots cast
3:00pm-4:00pm 14,214 ballots cast
4:00pm-5:00pm: 19,242 ballots cast

(118,103 Election Day ballots cast so far)

…Adding… Chicago Board of Elections…

Please see below for the updated Chicago Voter Turnout as of 3:00pm on Election Day, 3/19/24:

253,798 total ballots cast (includes EV and VBM)
1,697,498 active registered voters in Chicago
14.95% citywide turnout so far

Ballots Cast By Age Group:

17 -24: 7,475 ballots cast – 2.96%
25-34: 29,681 ballots cast – 11.69%
35-44: 32,791 ballots cast – 12.92%
45-54: 33,460 ballots cast – 13.18%
55-64: 48,834 ballots cast – 19.24%
65-74: 58,713 ballots cast – 23.13%
75+: 42,844 ballots cast – 16.88%

Ballots Cast Per Hour:

6:00am-7:00am: 3,043 ballots cast
7:00am-8:00am: 5,031 ballots cast
8:00am-9:00am: 9,196 ballots cast
9:00am-10:00am: 9,143 ballots cast
10:00am-11:00am: 9,974 ballots cast
11:00am-12:00pm: 11,505 ballots cast
12:00pm-1:00pm: 11,994 ballots cast
1:00pm-2:00pm: 12,393 ballots cast
2:00pm-3:00pm: 12,368 ballots cast
(84,647 Election Day ballots cast so far)

* WBEZ…

Anthony Young and Pamela Allen, both Austin residents who were electioneering for the U.S. Rep. Danny Davis’ campaign, stood outside Malcolm X College’s West Side Learning Center in West Garfield Park Tuesday morning trying to talk to voters on their way to the polls.

Young started electioneering two years ago after he was invited along by some friends. He said he enjoys talking to people, adding that he feels like a Johnny-on-the-spot. […]

It was Allen and Young’s first time working together, and the two bonded over the candy Young brought to hand to voters. Allen said she considered him a friend now, adding another to the list of ones she has made standing outside polling places for more than a decade.

“We’re out here for 12 hours, we gotta find something to talk about,” Allen said.

* Tribune…

The city of Chicago has sued Glock, one of the largest firearms manufacturers in the world, accusing the gunmaker of willfully ignoring design flaws in its handguns that allow for them to be easily turned to fire automatic rounds.

A spike in the use of “auto sears” or “switches” — quarter-sized devices affixed to Glock pistols that allow for multiple bullets to be fired with one trigger pull — has only exacerbated the city’s entrenched violence problems, city attorneys allege. […]

The complaint, filed Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court, accuses Glock of violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Business Practices Act, as well as the Chicago municipal code, by selling the modifiable guns to civilians who don’t work in law enforcement — “anyone with $20 – $25 to spare and a desire to circumvent long-standing federal and state prohibitions on possessing fully automatic machine guns can do so by buying an auto sear and affixing it to a Glock pistol.”

Attorneys for the city say the lawsuit is the first of its kind to be filed since the Illinois General Assembly amended the state’s consumer fraud law year to include firearm manufacturers.

Click here to read the lawsuit.

* Not good news…

* I really need to go sometime…

* From the Illinois Times publisher regarding Lee Milner…

Many of you know Lee, who has taken photos for IT and SBJ for many years. He is no longer able to do photography work due to his declining health, but the March 28 issue of Illinois Times will feature a retrospective of his photography. We are hosting an open house at the office from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, honoring Lee and his work over the years. Please invite anyone else that you think might be interested in stopping by.

The IT is at 1240 S. Sixth St. in Springfield.

* Here’s the rest…

  19 Comments      


Early afternoon precinct reports

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* I scheduled a medical checkup for this afternoon and I’m hoping to also get a haircut. Isabel is in charge.

What have you seen so far in your area? Turnout appears abysmal in most places, is it in yours as well? Any controversies at the polling place? Give us the dish and don’t forget to tell us where you’re at. Thanks!

  17 Comments      


Stop The Political Attacks On Natural Gas - 80% Of Illinoisans Use It To Heat Their Homes

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department

[The following is a paid advertisement.]

We need to stop the political attacks on natural gas. The reality is 80 percent of Illinoisans rely on natural gas to heat their homes. Our politicians need to create a plan for a gradual transition to clean energy that recognizes how homes are heated and powered today.

When Governor Pritzker’s appointees on the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) shut down the natural gas line Safety Modernization Program, it not only wiped out 1,000 jobs, but also subjected residents and business owners to the unnecessary danger of old, leaky gas infrastructure.

At this time, it makes no sense for Illinois to shut down the gas line safety program that prevents methane leaks and catastrophic accidents. We are calling on Illinois residents to fight back with us and tell Governor Pritzker and the ICC to decarbonize the right way. Fix our dangerous gas lines first.

Click on the links to view our ads: Ticking Time Bomb & Real Change.
To learn more and help fight back, visit us online at Fight Back Fund.

Paid for by Fight Back Fund

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Isabel’s mid-day news roundup (Updated)

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Shenanigans?



Click here for the Sun-Times and WBEZ’s live coverage of today’s primary elections. From their story about those above tweets…

U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia‘s campaign team started Election Day with an allegation against opponent Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th).

The Congressman’s campaign told the Sun-Times that Lopez’s team members were spotted giving away doughnuts and “envelopes of cash” to election judges in the alderman’s own ward. Volunteers from the Garcia campaign spotted the alleged incidents and subsequently reported them to the Board of Elections, said Garcia campaign spokesperson Manuel Diaz.

Lopez (15th) and his team did provide the election judges with doughnuts, coffee and $50 for lunch, the alderman said, but adds that providing for the polling workers and judges is nothing out of the ordinary, and Rep. Garcia’s team has a “lack of respect for election judges.”

* Capitol News Illinois…


* More Election Day coverage…

    * Tribune | Election Day in Illinois: Primary voters head to the polls on a chilly morning — and early numbers are down: The Voting Super Site at 191 N. Clark St. was quiet when polls opened with dozens of volunteers ready to assist voters as they began to trickle in. Across Chicago, voters can access more than 50 early-voting centers in the city or vote at their assigned precincts.

    * WBEZ | It’s in the hands of voters now, as they cast Illinois primary ballots in a slew of pivotal races: After months of shaking hands, stuffing mailboxes and flooding the airwaves with ads, scores of political candidates across Illinois will hand their fates to the voters in hopes of advancing to November’s general election. But most of the local-level electoral drama will be resolved tonight in many of the contests around deep-blue Chicago, where a Democratic nomination usually signals smooth campaign sailing into the fall. That’s also the case for many Republican-leaning areas of the state, where a GOP primary win can suggest a candidate is as good as elected.

    * Center Square | State Senate race omitted from vote-by-mail ballots in Will County: Samantha Gasca is a candidate in the Republican primary for the 19th Senate District. A voter in the district approached Gasca and told her there was no race on her vote-by-mail ballot. “This could have been a plain mistake, but at the same time these mistakes are made in contested Republican races and when it happens to Democrats, they do a voter recall,” Gasca told The Center Square. “They’ll stop the race.”

    * AP | Illinois voters to decide competitive US House primaries around the state: In southern Illinois, Republican Rep. Mike Bost faces only his second intraparty challenge in seeking his sixth term in Congress. Former state Sen. Darren Bailey, the unsuccessful 2022 GOP nominee for governor, is hoping to unseat the 63-year-old incumbent.

    * KSDK | US Rep. Mike Bost says a Bailey upset would be ‘bizarre’: “I’m gonna act like (Bailey) may (pull off the upset), and we’re gonna keep working through it,” Bost said during his ‘Road to Victory Tour’ on Monday afternoon. “My main goal is to make sure that the votes come out.” Several other power players in the right wing political arena have supported Bost over Bailey, too, including the National Rifle Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, Speaker Mike Johnson, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik, Jim Jordan and Byron Donalds.

    * Patch | Khalil and Ryan Battle For Open Seat In 36th District: Primary 2024: After representing the 36th District for the last 14 years, Rep. Kelly Burke announced last year that she would not be seeking another term after recovering from colon cancer. During her tenure in the state legislature, Burke was elected mayor of Evergreen Park in 2021 and served both roles. Neither candidate has broad name recognition in the district. Ryan is an attorney with a private practice in Oak Lawn, and Khalil has served as the administrative services coordinator for the City of Markham.

* Very wholesome…



…Adding… Chicago Board of Elections…

Please see below for the updated Chicago Voter Turnout as of 12:00 Noon on Election Day, 3/19/24:

207,339 total ballots cast (includes EV and VBM)
1,697,498 active registered voters in Chicago
12.21% citywide turnout so far

Ballots Cast By Age Group:

17 -24: 5,901 ballots cast – 2.84%
25-34: 23,453 ballots cast – 11.31%
35-44: 26,486 ballots cast – 12.77%
45-54: 26,991 ballots cast – 13.02%
55-64: 40,089 ballots cast – 19.34%
65-74: 48,569 ballots cast – 23.42%
75+: 35,850 ballots cast – 17.29%

Ballots Cast Per Hour:

6:00am-7:00am: 3,043 ballots cast
7:00am-8:00am: 5,031 ballots cast
8:00am-9:00am: 9,196 ballots cast
9:00am-10:00am: 9,143 ballots cast
10:00am-11:00am: 9,974 ballots cast
11:00am-12:00pm: 11,500 ballots cast
(47,887 Election Day ballots cast so far)

* Illinois Times…

An Illinois State Police investigation failed to determine how a 17-year-old obtained the handgun he fired inside the Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Center and carried as he tried to escape the facility with a hostage Sept. 30 before being shot by police.

Camren Marcelis Darden, 17, was hit by several rounds fired from a semi-automatic rifle by veteran Springfield police officer Brian Riebeling a few minutes before 8 p.m. Sept. 30. Darden was transported to HSHS St. John’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about two hours later.

“The investigation did not conclusively determine how the gun got into the detention center and into the hands of the juvenile,” Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said in a statement to Illinois Times. […]

It’s possible that authorities may never learn how Darden obtained the gun, Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin said.

* Chicago City Council’s Progressive Caucus finally weighed in…

* More…

    * Capitol News Illinois | After being rebuffed by regulators, utilities file slimmed-down spending plans: ComEd is asking for $7.6 billion in spending on grid improvements, a 10.7 percent decrease from their rejected plan. Ameren is seeking $1.88 billion in capital spending, about a 15.7 percent decrease from its previous request. The plans also include the companies’ operational spending, which would be similar to current levels.

    * Capitol News Illinois | Illinois high court asked to review law limiting venue in constitutional challenges: The Illinois Supreme Court is being asked to decide on the constitutionality of a new state law that says constitutional challenges to state laws and actions can only be filed in Cook or Sangamon counties. Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office on Monday filed an appeal directly to the Supreme Court after a Madison County judge last week ruled that the law violated the due process rights of one plaintiff in a lawsuit in that jurisdiction.

    * AFSCME Council 31 | We oppose Gov. Pritzker’s plan to demolish Stateville, Logan prisons: Closing the facilities for an extended period would all too likely disrupt and potentially destabilize the prison system. What’s more, doing so would bring upheaval to the lives of affected employees and individuals in custody. The state corrections agency did not seek or consider the input of frontline employees or the union in the development of this plan.

    * Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker executive order creates advisory council for affordable sickle cell treatment: In December, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease. They cost between $2 million and $3 million dollars per patient. Pritzker said Illinois Medicaid covers over 50 percent of patients with sickle cell disease. “The cost of treatment – over $2 million – leaves it inaccessible,” he said.

    * SJ-R | Ahead of primary in Illinois, Trump renews war of words with Pritzker: Both Biden and Trump have reached the necessary number of delegates to clinch their party’s respective nomination, which will be made official at the party conventions in Milwaukee from July 15-18 for the Republicans and in Chicago from Aug. 19-22 for the Democrats.

    * SJ-R | Repeal of state grocery tax could cost city of Springfield millions: Officials from the Office of Budget and Management estimate the city of Springfield would lose about $3.8 million in revenue for the year if Gov. JB Pritzker’s call to repeal the Illinois grocery sales tax is successful. Mayor Misty Buscher said she wished some sort of “sunset clause” would have been implemented. As it stands now, the 1% tax could permanently be removed by July 1, if approved by the general assembly.

    * Rockford Register Star | These 3 items top Rockford’s wish list as it renews lobbyist contract: Seeking pension relief, restoration of state funding and fewer unfunded mandates, Rockford on Monday agreed to renew its contract with lobbyist Michael Cassidy of Zephyr Government Strategies. The contract approved unanimously by City Council will pay Cassidy $10,000 per month or $120,000 in 2024. Cassidy has served as the city’s lobbyist since 2009.

    * Crain’s | Proposed Realtor settlement could mean big changes for home buying and selling: There’s at least some general consensus among real estate industry experts that buyers and sellers of homes will still pay Realtors, but the period in which 5%-to-6% commissions paid by sellers and split between the two agents seems to be on its way out.

    * Sun-Times Editorial Board | As Bally’s troubles mount, City Hall has to make sure casino is a winning bet: Bally’s cash problems are serious enough for the company to form a special committee last week to evaluate a $15-a-share buyout offer from New York hedge fund Standard General. But two years ago, Bally’s stock was being offered at $33 a share, and a buyout bid at that price was rejected by the gamer — which should raise alarms about the direction in which the company is heading and its ability to build the Chicago casino as promised.

    * Bloomberg | ‘No California, no Chicago’ on this restaurateur’s menu: And yet, since opening the first Carbone in New York in 2013, Zalaznick and his partners, chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, seem to have defied the odds, Allen said. They’ve transformed their pricey take on mid-century Italian-American cuisine into a global operation.

    * AP | Supreme Court extends block on Texas law that would allow police to arrest migrants: A one-page order signed by Justice Samuel Alito indefinitely prevents Texas from enforcing a sweeping state immigration enforcement law that had been set to take effect this month. The language of the order strongly suggests the court will take additional action, but it is unclear when. It marks the second time Alito has extended a pause on the law, known as Senate Bill 4, which the Justice Department has argued would step on the federal government’s immigration powers. Monday’s order extending the stay came a few minutes after a 5 p.m. deadline the court had set for itself, creating momentary confusion about the measure’s status.

    * WSIL | Phones, Internet Restoring Across Southern Illinois: hone and internet services are starting to come back online across portions of southern Illinois. The WSIL News 3 station’s phone and internet services were restored just before 5:30 p.m. Other agencies and area businesses have said their services were restored as well.

    * Tribune | With more funding rolling in and planning underway, a redesign of Chicago Union Station is moving forward: The project is expected to include overhauling the concourse to improve the way passengers move through the area, renovating and expanding station platforms — including those on the south concourse used primarily by Metra’s BNSF line — and bringing platforms into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

    * WGN | Lollapalooza 2024 official lineup released: This year’s headliners include SZA, Tyler The Creator, Blink-182, The Killers, Future, Metro Boomin, Hozier, Stray Kids, Melanie Martinez and Skrillex. Other acts include Deftones, Tate McRae, Laufey, Conan Gray, Reneé Rapp, Lizzy McAlpine, Fisher, Labrinth — among many more.

    * IMA | Voters Narrow Field to Top 16 Coolest Products Made in Illinois: More than 200 unique products from across the state were nominated for the 2024 title of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois. After two weeks of voting, the field has been narrowed to the Top 16. The top four vote-getters from the initial round of voting are the BoulePro 200AX manufactured by USACH in Elgin; Mullen’s Imitation French Dressing made by Mullen’s in Palestine; P15 Tamper Evident Cap and Spout for Flexible Pouch Packaging manufactured by Hoffer Plastics Corporation in South Elgin; and the Gindo’s Hot Sauce made by Gindo’s Spice of Life in St. Charles.

  28 Comments      


This much-needed election reform law needs to be revisited

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Grace Asiegbu at Injustice Watch…

Ever since she got married in 2012, Ashonta C. Rice has used her given name with her friends, her law clients, and even on many public documents.

But last month, Cook County elections officials — and the Illinois First District Appellate Court — ended her candidacy for judge by removing the 45-year-old lawyer’s name from the primary ballot under a law enacted to prevent candidates from duping voters with name changes.

Illinois legislators enacted the law in 2007 after a Cook County candidate changed his last name from “Rhine” to “O’Brien” to gain an advantage in a county once dominated by Irish American political figures. Historically, having an Irish-sounding name helped boost some candidates in past elections, according to a DePaul University analysis of Cook County judicial elections. The law says candidates who change their names within three years of an election cycle must include their former name on filing papers, with exemptions for name changes because of life milestones such as adoption, divorce, gender affirmation, and marriage.

The Cook County Electoral Board ordered Rice’s removal from the ballot in January, arguing because her divorce isn’t yet final, she should have added her married name to her nominating paperwork. It didn’t matter to board members that a judge in her divorce case last year issued an order officially changing her name back to “Rice” on June 15, 2023, court records show.

Rice and her attorney told Injustice Watch her exclusion from the ballot was an unfair interpretation of the law.

“The election code was radicalized into a sword and was abused by objectors to help the competing candidate,” said Andrew Finko, Rice’s attorney. “She’s not changing it to gain some advantage on the ballot or to conceal her identity or misrepresent to the voters. She’s using a name that she has consistently used.”

An Injustice Watch examination of public records suggests Rice is among a handful of candidates challenged under similar circumstances since the law was enacted.

In most cases, those candidates were women involved in divorce proceedings. And in every case — including Rice’s — the women kicked out of their races were not endorsed or supported by the Cook County Democratic Party.

The powers that be use election laws to benefit their candidates. No surprise there. But this seems pretty ridiculous.

* Read on…

Experts agree this was not the kind of behavior the 2007 law was intended to address. One of the key sponsors of the law, former Illinois state Rep. John Fritchey, said the way the law is being applied suggests it needs clarification.

“The original purpose of the law was aimed at people who very admittedly were changing their name to improve their chances of being elected judge,” said Fritchey, who left the Illinois House of Representatives to become a Cook County commissioner. “I’m in no position to know what the intent of the candidate was in this case. But there is an obvious and legitimate question about that and one that could be addressed through amending the Dissolution of Marriage Act.

“The fact that the present case exists demonstrates there’s still an ambiguity with respect to orders entered during the pendency of a divorce proceeding,” said Fritchey, who has run for judge and no longer holds public office.

Even Appellate Judge Freddrenna Lyle — who sat on the three-judge panel that rejected Rice’s appeal — lamented how the law has unfairly affected female candidates.

“Clearly, the acts of the candidate are not those sought to be prohibited by the legislature,” Lyle wrote in her special concurrence of the panel’s decision last month. “It is also clear that this issue is one particular to female candidates seeking nomination to elected office. … Only female candidates find themselves in litigation about surnames.”

Although Lyle said she disagreed with how the law is being enforced, she agreed with the two other judges who heard the case that the elections board made no fatal errors in applying it. The Illinois Supreme Court declined to hear Rice’s emergency appeal petition.

* More details…

Rice filed for divorce from her estranged husband, Christian Akiwowo, in 2022. Her name officially changed back to “Rice” on June 15 last year, court records show. Because the change fell within the three-year window under the law, her failure to notify elections officials of her former name left an opening to challenge her candidacy. The 328-page challenge was filed in December, arguing Rice should be removed under the law because she failed to comply with the rules.

Records show Rice changed her name on her voter registration, driver’s license, and Social Security card in the weeks after receiving the official name change. Because her divorce isn’t final, her opponent’s attorney argued it doesn’t fall under the divorce exception to the three-year rule under the law.

Rice, through her attorney, argued she always used her given name — professionally and personally — registering with the Illinois Supreme Court, the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, and the Cook County Circuit Court using her given surname. She’s also registered with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening using “Rice,” records show.

The board’s hearing officer assigned to hear the objection case recommended the board sustain the challenge because the altered driver’s license, Social Security card, and voter registration are “uncontroverted” evidence Rice changed her name.

At a Jan. 4 hearing before the three-member electoral board, both sides were allowed to make their cases. The three members include representatives of Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Iris Martinez, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, and Cook County Clerk Karen Yarborough.

Steven Laduzinsky, an attorney who argued Rice should be removed from the ballot, said the divorce exception to the three-year rule did not apply because Rice’s divorce was not yet final.

“You’re either divorced, or you’re not. Parties reconcile. They dismiss the divorce. That order is gone,” Laduzinsky said.. “This order got entered, and this name change was effective June 15, 2023. Was it within the three years? Yes. Was it a result of a dissolution of marriage? No.”

Finko, Rice’s attorney, argued the divorce exception did apply because of the judge’s ruling in her divorce case allowing her to resume full use of her given surname. He also raised concerns at the hearing about Murphy-Aguilú’s ties to one of the board members, Martinez’s proxy Gloria Chevere, a retired Cook County Circuit Court judge who is now a senior policy adviser in Martinez’s office.

Until he was appointed to the bench last year, Murphy-Aguilú served as Martinez’s chief of staff and contributed to her political campaigns. Chevere was one of four members of an advisory panel that recommended Murphy-Aguilú for his temporary judicial appointment last year. […]

“I’ve never gone on the record in court using my married last name. I am always Ashonta C. Rice,” Rice told Injustice Watch.

There’s more.

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Miranda Lambert to perform at Illinois State Fair

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Should be a great show…

Three-time GRAMMY winner and the most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history Miranda Lambert will perform at the Illinois State Fair on Sat., Aug. 17.

Lambert’s eighth solo album, Palomino, arrived in 2022 as the largest female country album debut of the year and earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album. Named among the best of the year by the New York Times, TIME, Rolling Stone, Billboard, People and many more, it marked the latest installment in a storied career that has spanned seven previous No. 1 solo albums, 11 No. 1 hit radio singles, more than 70 prestigious awards, earning the most-awarded artist in ACM history as well as praise from NPR as “the most riveting country star of her generation.”

“Miranda Lambert is a high-energy performer who will have everyone in the Illinois State Fair Grandstand singing along to her hit songs,” said Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark.

Lambert joins the Illinois State Fair on the heels of her headlining Velvet Rodeo Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino’s Bakkt Theater, which kicked off in late 2022 and will run through April.

Gavin Adcock is a 25-year-old Georgia native who recorded and released his first original single after recovering from a college football injury. He has since amassed hundreds of millions of streams, including his recent release, “A Cigarette,” which was streamed 30 million times in just a few short months. As he continues to write and record new music, he is hitting the road this summer with sold-out headline dates and multiple major festivals.

Tickets to the concert go on sale March 23 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster. Tickets for all other announced show are on sale via Ticketmaster.

Tier 3 - $85 / Tier 2 - $90 / Tier 1 - $95 / SRO Track - $95 / Blue Ribbon Zone - $150

*A $30 Pre-Show Party ticket is offered as an additional upgrade for all paid concerts.

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Mid-morning precinct reports

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Let us know what’s going on in and around your polling place/town/etc. today. Make sure to let us know where you are. Thanks!

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It’s just a bill

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* SJ-R…

The Illinois General Assembly advanced a whopping 186 bills out of committee over a three-day stretch last week before a Friday deadline. […]

Senate Bill 3219, led by Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, would allow the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide grant funding to farmer-owned grocery stores. […]

Senate Bill 3225 would protect artists and their labels from third party users who create music using AI to replicate voices without permission for commercial purposes. With this bill, labels would be able to have a case in state court on behalf of an Illinois artist if their voice was used. […]

Senate Bill 2960 introduced by Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview would require hotels to stop giving out small plastic bottles of personal products. This includes small bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash that are found in hotel bathrooms. Hotels that violate this would be faced with fines up to $500.

* WHBF…

An Illinois lawmaker wants to give election workers some extra protection.

State Senator Steve Stadelman’s bill would create a new fine for harassing or abusing people who run the polling sites. Stadelman came up with the idea in response to the growing amount of harassment election officials are seeing across the country. He points to a recent report from the William Brennan Institute for Labor Studies that found one in three election workers has been harassed.

Stadelman’s bill would establish a maximum $1,000 fine for people caught harassing or abusing election judges. Political analysts say the increase in harassment coincides with a trend of fewer people signing up to be election judges. The bill is still in committee.

Illinois does not have any fines like this right now.

* WGEM…

A bill in the Illinois legislature would create a regulatory framework to streamline carbon capture and storage projects in the state.

Sponsored by state Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, the plan is backed by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Climate Jobs Illinois and Matt Rush, the former president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. […]

“With this legislation, we can decarbonize without deindustrializing our state. Illinois can lead the way sustainably and economically, ensuring that businesses will be able to innovate and grow for decades to come,” said Illinois Manufacturers’ Association President and CEO Mark Denzler. […]

The Sierra Club Illinois Chapter released a statement opposing the legislation:

“Illinois is woefully unprotected and unprepared for the threat from the fossil fuel industry to make Illinois a ground-zero state for carbon capture. The legislation introduced last week does not adequately protect Illinois communities, our water, and our climate from the dangers of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) because it focuses solely on sequestration. We need legislation that regulates CO2 pipelines at every point of the CCS industrial cycle, including at the point of capture and when transported through pipelines. We’re working with landowners, farmers, and advocates across the state to instead advance common-sense legislation that puts a moratorium on CO2 pipelines to ensure our water resources are protected and that all liability rests with private developers, not Illinois taxpayers.”

* Farm Week Now…

Illinois Farm Bureau opposes proposed legislation about carbon capture and storage projects in Illinois.

At a March 13 press conference in Springfield, a coalition of Democratic lawmakers, as well as business, labor and some agriculture groups, unveiled Senate Bill 3311 and House Bill 569. The bills create the Climate and Landowner Protection Act, encouraging the use of technologies that enable the capture of carbon dioxide for underground storage.

“We oppose the bill based on IFB policy,” said Bill Bodine, IFB director of business and regulatory affairs. “The bill includes an integration process that could force landowners into a carbon dioxide storage project without their consent.” […]

Matt Rush, former Illinois Corn Growers Association president, said during the press conference that the legislation could “help the corn ethanol industry pursue domestic and international low-carbon fuel markets.” But he also reiterated, “It’s important that any expansion is done in a responsible way that maintains the integrity of Illinois farm plans.”

* River Bender…

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is calling on lawmakers to support his initiative to create a new investment pool enabling nonprofit organizations to invest together in higher-interest portfolios and generate additional funds for their good works. […]

Frerichs’ proposal is advancing through the Illinois General Assembly in two bills, Senate Bill 3157, sponsored by Sen. Adriane Johnson, and House Bill 4908, sponsored by Rep. Mark Walker.

“The new program would be a powerful and flexible tool to help nonprofits achieve financial growth without making immense sacrifices,” said Senator Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “We are taking positive steps to pool assets and funds – maximizing the ability to invest in high-quality, short-term solutions to best serve the community.” […]

If Frerichs’ plan becomes law, the nonprofit investment pool would be structured in the same way as the Illinois Public Treasurer’s Investment Pool – also known as the Illinois Funds. The Illinois Funds allows units of government to invest their funds safely while benefiting from the economies of scale available through a pooled investment fund portfolio that exceeds $19 billion. The pool invests in liquid, high-quality short-term investments.

* Chalkbeat…

Illinois lawmakers and education advocates say Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed budget does not recommend enough money for schools to help newly arrived migrant students.

Pritzker’s budget proposal in February did not include an additional $35 million to support migrant students that the Illinois State Board of Education had requested in the budget proposal it submitted in January.

State Rep. Fred Crespo, a Democrat representing suburbs northwest of Chicago, has filed a pair of bills — House Bill 2822 and House Bill 3991— that would allow the Illinois State Board of Education to create a $35 million New Arrival Grant program that would distribute funding to school districts to support migrant students.

Crespo said he plans to amend the legislation to request $150 million for the grant program.

Both bills are currently in committees in the House.

* Center Square…

Most county clerks and recorders in Illinois could get a pay increase. A state lawmaker introduced a measure that would change the way county clerks and recorders across the state get their taxpayer-funded salaries.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders is a proponent of Senate Bill 2131 from state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, which says clerks have to be paid at least 80% of what the state’s attorney in that county is paid and that the pay is to mostly come from state taxpayer funds. […]

Turner introduced the bill and has the support of state Sen. Sally Turner, R-Beason, the former Logan County clerk. She said clerks aren’t paid enough and work extremely hard jobs. […]

The bill remains in committee.

  5 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: The Illinois Primary has arrived! Click here for election results.

* Related stories…

* Isabel’s top picks…

* Here’s the rest…

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Early morning precinct reports

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* What are you seeing out there? Please let us know where you are. Thanks!

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.

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Isabel’s afternoon roundup (Updated x2)

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

…Adding… The governor has signed the Chicago elected school board bill…

Today, Governor JB Pritzker took the following bill action:

Bill Number: SB0015
Description: Divides the City of Chicago into 10 districts and 20 subdistricts for determining members of the Chicago Board of Education. The Mayor shall appoint the President of the Chicago Board of Education and 10 members. An additional 10 members will be elected to the Board in the 2024 general election. All members of the Chicago Board of Education will be elected in the 2026 general election.
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

…Adding… Senate President Don Harmon…

Today marks the start of an exciting new era in community-led education in which the parents, families and taxpayers of Chicago are empowered to decide what is best for their schools. This move to elected, representative democracy for Chicago Public Schools is an achievement decades in the making and a testament to the power of collective action. Special recognition goes to the community advocates who patiently led these efforts for many years, as well as the dedicated legislators who helped shepherd this effort through the legislative process including Senator Rob Martwick, who was the sponsor of the original law that created the elected school board, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, Senator Omar Aquino and Senator Elgie Sims.

* Attorney General Raoul…

Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that more than 190 teams of assistant attorneys general and investigators from his office will be monitoring the primary election throughout Illinois on Tuesday, March 19 to ensure that voters’ rights are protected and polling places are accessible.

Raoul urged voters to call his office if they encounter suspected improper or illegal activity. Chicago and northern Illinois voters can call 1-866-536-3496. Central and southern Illinois voters can call 1-866-559-6812. Individuals with hearing or speech disabilities can reach the office by using the 7-1-1 relay service.

“The right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans. This is why my office will be monitoring polling places to ensure that right is protected,” Raoul said. “Voters who feel their voting rights have been violated or who have witnessed concerning behavior should immediately report it to my office or local law enforcement.”

Attorney General Raoul reminded voters of some of their basic voting rights:

    - Voters have the right to vote if they are in line when the polls close at 7 p.m. or at any other time between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Election Day (10 ILCS 5/17-1).
    - If a voter makes a mistake or “spoils” a paper ballot and the voter has not cast the ballot, the voter has the right to receive a replacement ballot (10 ILCS 5/17-11).
    - If a voter cannot read, has trouble understanding English, or has a disability, that voter has the right to request voting assistance from anyone other than his or her employer, an agent of his or her employer, or an officer or agent of his or her union (10 ILCS 5/17-14).
    - Voters have the right to take unpaid time from work to vote, but no more than two successive hours, as long as they have applied with their employer before Election Day. The employer may set the time of day (10 ILCS 5/17-15).
    - No one is allowed to try to influence a voter within 100 feet of the polling place (10 ILCS 5/17-29).
    - Under Illinois law, it is a crime to prevent a person from voting or registering to vote using intimidation, force, threat or deception (10 ILCS 5/29-4).

* Mark Maxwell…



* Governor Pritzker in the Tribune…

Three weeks ago, I proposed my sixth balanced budget for our state. In my budget address, I argued, as I have in years past, that the people of Illinois deserve relief from recent high inflation, especially every time they shop for groceries. We ought to eliminate the regressive sales tax on groceries and put money back into the pockets of the working families of Illinois. Making life easier for people by lowering the cost of living is one of the most basic responsibilities of government. The cost of food is high, and state government doesn’t need to add to that burden.

Getting rid of the grocery tax should be a bipartisan endeavor championed by every elected official. As you’ve read in these pages, there are some who are fighting against this tax cut, and their excuse is that local governments need their residents to pay grocery taxes. They have even threatened to raise property taxes and cut services if we give everyone some relief at the grocery checkout counter.

What grocery tax cut opponents aren’t telling you is that local governments in Illinois have seen a dramatic increase in funding from state government, and they can afford to lower your local tax burden. In 2010, the state distributed $3.8 billion to local governments, and in 2023, that number nearly doubled to more than $7 billion. While municipalities claim their funding from the Local Government Distributive Fund was cut, the numbers tell a different story. Funding from that source has doubled, from $985 million in 2010 to $1.9 billion today. That’s more than twice the rate of inflation. In fact, since I took office in 2019, local governments have seen a windfall of overall support from state government of an additional $1.3 billion a year.

Here are some of the ways we accomplished that: In 2019 when the General Assembly and I closed an online sales tax loophole benefiting mostly out-of-state corporations, Illinois municipalities began receiving an additional $200 million a year in sales tax revenue. That same year, we passed the landmark Rebuild Illinois capital plan, and local governments have benefited from $680 million annually to use at their discretion for local transportation projects. When we legalized cannabis, we ensured locals would see a share of that revenue, now totaling an estimated $100 million per year.

We are also saving local governments $110 million annually by having the state assume the cost of local bond issuances. Just last year, we increased the percentage of individual income taxes that state government shares with municipalities and counties. On top of all of that, the state is sending nearly $80 million a year in video gaming revenue to local governments.

* Ben Szalinski…

* Here’s the rest…

    * WTVO | Pritzker signs executive order to reduce costs of sickle cell treatment: “Historically we’ve seen breakthrough treatments end up out of reach for everyday Americans — strictly because of their cost,” said Pritzker. “My goal is to make emerging and transformative gene and cell therapy treatments affordable and available to all Illinoisans who need them. If we can narrow the affordability gap, those who are suffering from these diseases won’t have to wait a generation before they can access these groundbreaking cures.”

    * WICS | Pritzker Announces $5 Million in Funding for the Home Illinois Workforce Pilot Program: The goal of the Home Illinois Workforce Pilot is to support individuals experiencing homelessness by improving employment opportunities, helping them establish financial stability and improving their ability to afford permanent housing in their community. The program is an essential part of the JTED Program. The JTED Program was created to provide workforce training and wrap-around services to bolster equitable workforce recovery for Illinoisans struggling to gain meaningful employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    * SJ-R | Unemployment claims in Illinois stayed the same last week: Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Illinois were unchanged last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, hovered at 8,123 in the week ending March 9, in line with the week before, the Labor Department said.

    * Daily Herald | What you need to know before you vote Tuesday: But the presidency isn’t the only office that will be on ballots in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. Races to determine the Democratic and Republican nominees for judicial posts, county board seats, countywide positions and various state and federal offices will be settled, too, as will the fates of a variety of public questions.

    * WTTW | Police Pursuits Cost Chicago Taxpayers $51.4M From 2019 to 2023 as Toll is Set to Nearly Double: Analysis: That toll is set to nearly double, as the Chicago City Council considers paying $45 million to resolve a lawsuit that alleges an unauthorized chase left a 15-year-old boy with a traumatic brain injury, unable to walk or talk.

    * Crain’s | The DEI backlash has come for Chicago C-suites: Only the 295th Black woman to become an architect in the U.S., Dowdell remembers the conversations around diversity and inclusion change in 2020. People from many backgrounds were onboard demanding equity. Then came last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action in colleges, which “(raised) all these questions about the sustainability of DEI policies,” Dowdell says. “It’s really disturbing how quickly the pendulum is shifting back toward a less inclusive and diverse society.”

    * Sun-Times | After transgender migrant was shot in Little Village, a cartel-tied Venezuelan was arrested but soon released: While he had been identified as the gunman and police had recovered key evidence — including a shell casing and video of the Ford Explorer used in the attack — Cook County prosecutors wouldn’t bring charges. A spokesperson for the state’s attorney’s office said the case has been “continued for additional investigation,” noting that “no charging decision has been made at this time.”

    * Crain’s | How personal seat licenses could fuel the Bears’ lakefront stadium ambitions: PSLs are a familiar concept for the Bears, which sold such licenses ranging from $765 to $8,500 that collectively raised more than $50 million toward the $690 million renovation of Soldier Field in 2002 — licenses whose value would evaporate should the team ditch its current home at Soldier Field. But ticket market experts say those costs would pale in comparison to the PSL rates the team could charge to back a new venue. That stands to test Bears supporters’ financial willingness to help foot the stadium bill for a team that has seemingly inelastic demand for its product, despite years of mostly middling performance on the field and gripes that many fans are priced out of attending games.

    * Block Club | Related Midwest Should Fix ‘Hot Mess’ Buildings Before Getting Money For New Sox Park, Tenants Say: Residents of Northpoint Apartments in the North of Howard area of Rogers Park rallied outside the River North offices of Related Midwest Friday, calling on the prominent development firm to address longstanding issues at their affordable housing complex. The group also called on city and state officials to deny any requests for public funds to subsidize a joint plan by Related Midwest and the White Sox to build a new stadium at The 78, the South Loop development site owned by Related Midwest, while issues persist at Related’s portfolio of affordable apartments.

    * Sun-Times | Video purportedly shows Loop mosque intruder who blurted offensive statements during prayers, smashed doors: It happened just before nightly prayers for Ramadan around 8 p.m., when a man approached the Downtown Islamic Center, 213 S. State St., police and mosque spokesperson Salman Azam said. Video footage from the center shows a man following a pair of women into the building, and shouting and gesturing as someone opens the door for him to leave.

    * Lake County News-Sun | Women’s History Month event honors female Lake County trailblazers; ‘There is so much to admire about their lives and empowerment’: Chacon, Jones and Lee were honored for their achievements at the inaugural Women’s History Month Luncheon of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Lake County Thursday at the College of Lake County’s Waukegan campus. Shaunese Teamer, the executive director of the Lake County chamber, said the organization plans to make the luncheon an annual event honoring women members for their accomplishments.

    * Tribune | Solar eclipse: Glasses are key, but did you know clothing choice could enhance viewing?:
    “Tell your friends and family who you’re going to go to the eclipse with to wear bright colors — ridiculously bright colors,” [ NASA volunteer educator and eclipse chaser Gordon Telepun] said. “A combination of reds and greens, maybe some blues and some yellows, if you want to see the Purkinje effect.”

    * AP | ‘Art and science:’ How bracketologists are using artificial intelligence this NCAA Tournament: The technologically inclined are chasing goals even more complicated than selecting the winners of all 67 matchups in both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. They are fine-tuning mathematical functions in pursuit of the most objective model for predicting success in the upset-riddled tournament. Some are enlisting AI to perfect their codes or to decide which aspects of team resumes they should weigh most heavily.

  7 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Fundraiser list and some other stuff

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Feds detail case against Madigan, McClain and say they plan to call Solis to the witness stand

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Today’s federal filings are here and here. That second one is pretty extensive and worth a look. From the Sun-Times…

Danny Solis’ days on the federal witness stand may not be over.

Months after declining to call the notorious FBI mole to testify in the trial of ex-Ald. Edward M. Burke, prosecutors disclosed Monday that they intend to summon Solis to the stand in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, set for October.

That notice appears to short-circuit the kind of will-he/won’t-he drama that surrounded Solis’ role in Burke’s trial last fall. Solis was ultimately called to the stand by Burke’s defense attorneys, who questioned him for about three hours in December.

This time around, prosecutors say Solis will testify about allegations that Madigan agreed to help with the transfer of a property in Chinatown from the state to the city in exchange for business for Madigan’s private law firm, as well as an alleged scheme to help Solis land a spot on a state board.

* Tribune…

According to the new document in the Madigan case, which was filed several days after the original deadline due to technical issues at the U.S. attorney’s office, Solis will provide “devastating” testimony that adds context to many of Madigan’s responses on the secret recordings and allegedly shows how he was using Solis to get introductions to big-time developers, including the New York-based firm in charge of the Post Office project.

“Solis is expected to testify that Madigan continued to ask Solis during his cooperation to make introductions to developers so that Madigan could secure their tax business for his law firm,” prosecutors wrote. […]

In the filing Monday, prosecutors said they will prove that the purposes of Madigan’s criminal enterprise included enhancing his own political power and financial well-being, financially rewarding Madigan’s political allies, political workers, and associates for their loyalty, and generating “income for members and associates of the enterprise through illegal activities.”

“Madigan was the leader of the enterprise, and he used his various positions to oversee, direct, and guide certain of the enterprise’s illegal activities,” prosecutors said.

* From the feds…

AT&T-Related Conduct.

At the same time Madigan and McClain were arranging for and maintaining stream of benefits directed to Madigan and his associates from ComEd, Madigan and McClain also plotted to solicit bribes from Illinois Bell Telephone Company, doing business as “AT&T Illinois.” AT&T Illinois (generally referred to herein simply as “AT&T”) was an Illinois company that provided regulated wireline and other communications services in Illinois.

Between February 2017 and January 2018, Madigan, McClain, the president of AT&T, Paul La Schiazza, and others discussed below agreed to corruptly confer benefits on Madigan, intending to corruptly influence and reward Madigan in connection with efforts to pass legislation favorable to AT&T.

The bribes AT&T paid to Madigan were comprised of payments totaling $22,500 made indirectly by AT&T to a former legislator, Individual FR-1, for the last nine months of 2017. Individual FR-1 did no work in return for these payments. The coconspirators concealed the nature of the payments to Individual FR-1 by paying Individual FR-1 indirectly through Intermediary 4 (one of AT&T’s lobbyists) and by causing the creation of a false contract and other false internal records to disguise the true nature of the payments.

In return for those payments, Madigan and McClain helped AT&T to pass valuable legislation, including AT&T’s carrier of last resort (or “COLR”) legislation, which was a prerequisite for AT&T to terminate its costly obligation to provide landline telephone services to all Illinois residents that requested such services.

* As an aside, the unions had been hotly opposed to AT&T’s COLR legislation, which is a prime reason why Madigan would not advance the bill. But then after countless machinations the COLR language was attached to a proposal that raised money to fund local 9-1-1 services and Gov. Rauner vetoed it…

The majority in the General Assembly waited until the last moment to send this 9-1-1 service reauthorization bill to my desk. Unfortunately, those lawmakers also inserted a major tax hike into this bill, a tax that’s both excessive and unwarranted, and that I strongly oppose. The tax hike is large for the people of Illinois, but it’s particularly massive for the people of Chicago. Chicago 9-1-1 fees are already the highest in America. This extreme increase is unfair and indefensible. But the majority in the General Assembly is using the threat of cancellation of 9-1-1 services on Saturday as leverage to force this tax hike through over my opposition.

This mean-spirited strategy has been employed by the majority repeatedly over the years, most prominently in the current budget impasse: holding innocent people, our most vulnerable residents and essential services hostage as leverage to force excessive, unwarranted tax hikes onto the people of Illinois. This practice must stop.

The veto override motions passed both chambers overwhelmingly in late June and early July of 2017 (receiving more House “Yes” votes than the bill itself). The overrides were, at the time, seen as a test of whether Republicans would stick with Democrats to override a Rauner tax hike veto and end the long stalemate. Partially because of that test vote, the impasse was finally broken less than a week later.

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Illini win Big Ten championship, earn No. 3 seed in NCAA Tournament

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* The Champaign Room…

For the second time in four years, Your Fighting Illini are the Big Ten Tournament Champions, beating Wisconsin for the eighth-straight time overall on Sunday in Minneapolis, 93-87.

Much like the previous two victories at Target Center, the Illini came back from a double-digit deficit to beat a third sizzling-hot team in as many days. […]

Unlike the previous BTT Championship in 2021 with Ayo and Kofi, this particular set of victories did not FEEL like relief, it felt more like inevitability.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a weird thing to FEEL for a lifelong fan of this state university. Inevitability is always a negative emotion or foreboding of catastrophe just around the corner.

* AP…

Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 34 points on 15-for-17 shooting from the free-throw line, helping 13th-ranked Illinois outlast Wisconsin 93-87 in Big Ten tournament championship game on Sunday. […]

Shannon finished with 102 points in three games this weekend, one short of the Big Ten Tournament scoring record, and was voted the Most Outstanding Player. Keegan Murray had 103 points for Iowa in 2022, but the Hawkeyes played four games that year on the way to the title.

After celebrating in a shower of orange-and-blue confetti and cutting down the nets at Target Center, the Illini hustled to a side room for the NCAA Tournament selection show to learn they’re the No. 3 seed in the East Region, with a first-round game at 2:10 p.m. Thursday (truTV) against No. 14 Morehead State. […]

Illinois, the winningest team in the Big Ten over the last five seasons, has its most victories since a 26-win team in 2005-06.

* News-Gazette…

“When you’re part of something that’s really special — and that’s this league — when you accomplish something like this, you don’t take it for granted,” Illinois coach Brad Underwood said. “To come here and have three games that were all a little bit different and then have the confetti fall at the end, I couldn’t be prouder of these guys. I’m glad they get to experience that feeling and hoist that trophy.” […]

Before the trophy was hoisted and the confetti fell, Marcus Domask knew exactly who he wanted to celebrate with first. Terrence Shannon Jr. was in the sights of the Southern Illinois transfer the entire time.

“I ran over to TJ,” Domask said. “What he did this tournament was unbelievable. He put us on his back and carried us. I went to TJ first, and then everybody was just jumping around and it’s a celebration.

“It was the reason I came to Illinois. I came to Illinois to win championships. That was pretty much all me and coach talked about in the portal. Who was going to be on the team. How we were going to win championships. That was the main thing I was looking for.”

* Illini Now…

Illinois guard Terrence Shannon was greeted with a chant from the Wisconsin fans each time he went to the foul line during Sunday’s Big Ten title game.

A section of the Badgers fans would chant “No Means No” as Shannon prepared to shoot. It was in reference to Shannon facing rape allegations stemming from an incident last September.

According to Brian Hamilton of The Athletic, the Big Ten has since stopped the chant. It was caught early in the first half.

* More…

    * The Intelligencer | Illini earn No. 3 seed in NCAA Tournament: Illinois is the No. 3 seed in the East region and will open their NCAA Tournament run against No. 14 seed Morehead State (26-8) in the first round at 2:10 p.m. Thursday in Omaha, Neb., at CHI Health Center Omaha. Illinois is one of three Big Ten teams – and one of 14 teams nationally – to earn a bid in each of the last four NCAA Tournaments.

    * WCIA | Illinois wins second Big Ten Tournament Title in four years: “You just get chills honestly, especially myself growing up in the Midwest, an Indiana boy, you know you grow up watching college basketball your whole life,” junior Luke Goode said. “Watching people cut down the nets and having the opportunity to be in those shoes is something people will always remember.”

  12 Comments      


Pritzker supports pause on any CPS funding decreases for selective enrollment schools until all Chicago school board members are elected

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* HB5766 is sponsored by Rep. Margaret Croke (D-Chicago)…

Amends the Chicago School District Article of the School Code. Prohibits, until February 1, 2027, the Chicago Board of Education from closing any attendance center within the school district that has selective admission requirements that are approved by the Board. Prohibits, until February 1, 2027, the Board from changing the standards for admission to any attendance center within the school district that has selective admission requirements that are approved by the Board. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of the Code, the Board may not take any action, until February 1, 2027, that results in a decrease in either the total amount or percentage of funds allocated to an attendance center within the school district that has selective admission requirements that are approved by the Board. Effective immediately.

House Speaker Chris Welch has signed on as the bill’s chief co-sponsor. Subscribers know why.

* Gov. Pritzker was asked today where he stood on the legislation. He said he supports it…

It basically focuses on making sure that we don’t see any changes in selective enrollment schools between now and when there’s a fully elected school board. I think it would be a mistake before the people get a chance to vote all of the new members of the Board of Education in. And so I’m supporting that bill. I think she’s done a good job with it.

  5 Comments      


‘The woke left is coming after me for peeing on a tree during my college days’

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

“The woke left is coming after me for peeing on a tree during my college days,” state Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich) told me not long ago.

I’ve told you about this race before. The 102nd Illinois House District is one of a handful of southeastern and southern Illinois Republican primaries that might slow or intensify the Republican Party’s rightward lunge. They’ve featured far-right candidates trying to fend off or battling with more mainstream Republicans. US Rep. Mike Bost’s race against the much further-right Darren Bailey has been another.

Niemerg, an anti-union, anti-abortion, pro-gun Illinois Freedom Caucus stalwart, was responding at the time to an opposition report I’d seen about him. That research eventually found its way into a TV ad from an Illinois Education Association-funded group helping Niemerg’s Republican primary opponent Jim Acklin, a former school superintendent.

The ad is paid for by Illinois Working PAC, an independent expenditure committee which spent more than $100,000 on the race and received all of its funding from the IEA. The teachers union and other unions directly contributed another $120,000 to Acklin’s campaign. That gave Acklin almost twice the spending power as Rep. Niemerg.

“Adam Niemerg sure talks a lot, but what is he not telling you?” the ad’s announcer asked. “Well, there’s the DUI Niemerg got, more than twice the limit. And how he pleaded guilty to obscene conduct.”

OK, let’s stop right there for a moment. Niemerg was busted in 2003 for DUI, speeding and possession/consumption of alcohol by a minor. He paid a fine and had to go to treatment. Then, on 4/20 (heh) of 2006, Niemerg was busted for obscene conduct. He pleaded guilty, paid a fine and was given 90 days supervision.

Niemerg has not addressed the claims via his own advertising, even though “obscene conduct” can conjure up quite a large number of scenarios. Also, a lot of homeless people charged with peeing on trees end up in a heap of legal trouble, so it’s not that funny to them. The anti-Niemerg ad is also being pushed hard online, and as of last Friday afternoon it had 232,000 YouTube views, which is more than twice the total population of a House district.

A group called American Action Fund, however, punched back on Niemerg’s behalf with social media ads on another topic. “Jim Acklin failed to act when complaints were filed against his friend and chose to blame the victim while superintendent. Acklin looked the other way and let a predator roam free in his school for years, now he wants to be your State Rep. Our State Rep. should stand up for us, not their buddy.” The ad links to a 2016 news story (which was basically an opposition research report released when Acklin was running for a House seat) entitled, “In sexual misconduct suit, State Rep candidate said female student was responsible for relationship with teacher.” According to Facebook, the ad generated up to 40,000 impressions by last Friday.

Acklin brushed off the attack, noting that the lawsuit “was based on entirely false allegations,” and was, “so unfounded that it was ultimately dismissed with prejudice against the plaintiff, which means that I can never again be sued for that false allegation. I was exonerated because I handled the situation exactly as it should have been handled; I suspended and barred the employee involved from school property within minutes of learning of the allegations. The individual in question will never be able to teach in Illinois again because of the action I took.” But Acklin hasn’t specifically countered the claim that I can tell.

This has been, without a doubt, the meanest primary in Illinois this spring.

Let’s go back to the Acklin TV ad: “Niemerg voted to allow minors convicted of serious crimes to be paroled. And remember those Obama DACA aliens? Niemerg voted to allow them to become police officers. I guess with Adam Niemerg, it’s not what he says, but what he doesn’t say that’s important.”

Niemerg has denied that he voted to allow DACA recipients to become police officers. But he did vote for the bill when it applied to non-citizens. Niemerg and a few others voted “No” after it was amended to explicitly include DACA folks.

And a recent Niemerg mailer features some rather incendiary quotes from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates and ties them to Acklin. “Jim Acklin is completely funded by the radical, left-wing extremists,” the mailer blares.

I’ll let you know how it plays out.

  18 Comments      


SoS Giannoulias went off on Mayor Johnson about subminimum wage, Bring Chicago Home and public safety

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Nadig Newspapers published this story a few weeks ago, but I somehow missed it. A subscriber just sent it to me to ask what I thought. I’ll let y’all decide. Here’s Brian Nadig…

At Feb. 23 Northwest Side business luncheon, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias was critical of Mayor Brandon Johnson, while Alderman Samantha Nugent (39th) expressed concern that some local families would move to the suburbs if the Chicago Board of Education were to dismantle selective enrollment programs.

“I think what this administration is doing to small businesses is at a time it shouldn’t,” Giannoulias said, adding that he once served as business owner on the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce.

“No one is more pro labor than me” but the city’s new law on eliminating the subminimum wage will not generate more revenue for the city and will “hurt” small businesses, he said. […]

Efforts to increase real estate transfer taxes in Chicago also are “not good” for business growth, and the city should make “public safety needs … an absolute priority every single day,” Giannoulias said. He added that the mayor may be working to address safety but “the perception is there” that the city is not doing enough.

  28 Comments      


It’s just a bill

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* G-PAC President Kathleen Sances…

When news broke this past week of a threat and subsequent lockdown at the state Capitol in Springfield, everyone’s minds went to the same chilling place: Is there a gunman? […]

The reality is that the fear that spread through the Capitol is the same fear we instill in our children, who are forced to be trained for active shooter drills before they can even read or write. Yes, these drills are for their protection, but there are far greater measures we can and should take to protect our children from being killed with a gun. Namely, pass laws that prevent gun violence.

Despite the great progress Illinois has made passing gun violence prevention legislation such as the ban on assault weapons and the requirement of universal background checks, we still have work to do. Guns are still the leading cause of death for children and teens in Illinois, and more than 1,600 people die from guns every year in our state.

Our legislators should think about their experience during the shelter-in-place order when it comes time to voting on legislation such as Karina’s Bill, which would make sure domestic abusers don’t have access to guns; a measure for secure gun storage to prevent access to guns by children and people at increased risk of harming themselves or others; and a bill that would hold straw purchasers accountable for “losing” guns in the illegal secondary market.

Our lawmakers should be running to the chamber to pass these bills, not wringing their hands waiting for the “right” time to take action.

* Rep. John Cabello’s HB4373 was assigned to the Executive Committee Thursday…

Amends the Secretary of State Act. Provides that the Office of the Secretary of State shall install and maintain electronic monitoring devices at each entrance to the State Capitol Complex and shall install and maintain safety call boxes around the State Capitol Complex. Defines terms.

* Journal Courier…

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy spent months preparing to move to Illinois from Florida in the early 1990s. It was stressful but necessary because even then, she said, Florida laws governing health care were more restrictive than what was legally available in Illinois. […]

Cassidy’s House Bill 5152 would give a $500 tax credit to anyone who moves to Illinois to teach, get or provide health care, including abortion and gender-affirming care, from states with more restrictive laws regarding access to lawful health care. The bill is assigned to a subcommittee of the Revenue and Finance Committee. […]

“I’m not saying you have to come here and provide abortion care or provide gender-affirming care, because I am just as concerned about the emergency room physician who doesn’t want to have to watch a patient die,” she said.

The tax credit is something the state should want to do to make people feel welcome, Cassidy said, noting some of her siblings retired early from their jobs as teachers in Florida because they were tired of the restrictions placed on health care options.

* Shaw Local…

Don’t just complain about it, offer a solution.

That’s one baseline expectation for elected officials. Slightly up the ladder is making sure the proposed solution is practical and, more importantly, plausible. Practical in the sense of real-world implementation and plausible in terms of “can we get this through the legislature and signed by the governor?” […]

State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, filed the bill Jan. 30. As of Tuesday, it was assigned to the Health Care License Committee, concurrent with a House Republican press conference at which Hauter explained the intent. […]

Hauter’s proposal would change the Civil Administrative Code to give the IDFPR secretary power to expedite regular and temporary licenses in accordance with department rules. McCombie’s House Bill 4855 would require the department to accept online payments. Other GOP bills call for lowering licensure costs, streamlining out-of-state licenses and creating task forces to explore long-term solutions.

* One component of Governor Pritzker’s health insurance reforms is banning prior authorization requirements in-patient treatment at a psychiatric facility and “step therapy”. Here’s a New York Times opinion piece about how prior authorization can harm patients…


* WGEM…

A bill in the Illinois state Senate would require school districts to list learning materials, curriculum and activity details online.

Sponsored by state Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, the bill would require districts to update the information online every Jan. 1 and Aug. 1. […]

If the bill becomes law, each curriculum report would remain online until at least the time next year’s report would be posted.

* Carbon Herald…

Earlier this week Illinois Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea filed legislation that would set up a framework for the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the state.

Backed by industry organizations and unions, this effort is a fresh attempt at creating conditions for CCS to develop, following the retracted applications from Navigator CO2 Ventures and Wolf Carbon Solutions last year, with Navigator ultimately cancelling its 1,350-mile pipeline.

Senate Bill 3311 and House Bill 569, would create the Climate and Landowner Protection Act, aiming to provide clarity when it comes landowners’ rights for the pore space under private property and the exact responsibilities project developers would have when it comes to safety. […]

Both the ILFB and Sierra Club of Illinois point out the absence of provisions for the carbon capture pipelines that would have to be constructed underneath farmland with the latter also saying that the use of eminent domain should also be prohobited.

  11 Comments      


Open thread

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…

  22 Comments      


Isabel’s morning briefing

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* ICYMI: Bailey vs. Bost congressional race is a GOP primary to watch. Capitol News Illinois…

    - Congressman Mike Bost has a funding advantage raising and spending more than $2 million through the end of February, compared to only $400,000 in spending by the Darren Bailey campaign.
    - Bost has endorsements from National Right to Life, the NRA, iFB, and, perhaps most importantly, former President Trump, who previously backed Bailey in the 2022 gubernatorial race.
    - Two Democrats have filed for the seat as well – Preston Nelson and Brian Roberts – but neither has reported raising or spending any money on their campaigns.

* Related stories…

* Isabel’s top picks…

    * Illinois Times | Limited capacity in juvenile detention centers statewide: In addition to the Sangamon County facility not currently holding youth, a detention center in Franklin County recently closed. That facility was closed by a judge who said staffing shortages made it difficult to meet new state standards governing the treatment of youth in custody, according to a Jan. 4 story by ProPublica and Capitol News Illinois. There are 14 other remaining facilities statewide to request assistance, Sangamon County Administrator Brian McFadden said.

    * Tribune | From parades to pulpits, candidates make one final push before primary: Without contested presidential primary contests to help drive voter turnout at the top of the ticket, expectations are for a low voter turnout, so “institutional support is very important,” said Mariyana Spyropoulos, who is challenging incumbent Democratic Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Iris Martinez. Spyropoulos got the backing of the Cook County Democratic Party over Martinez, who has bucked several of the organization’s slated candidates and has been feuding with Toni Preckwinkle, the county party chair and County Board president. Spyropoulos said that support “is going to help us, because the party is really strong.”

    * ABC Chicago | Chicago voter turnout significantly low ahead of Illinois primary election, political experts say: The latest numbers Sunday night from the Chicago Board of Elections show so far more than 131,000 ballots have been cast. The number is significantly down from the same time period in 2020, when more than 190,000 ballots had been cast.

Governor Pritzker will be in Chicago at La Radida Children’s Hospital signing an executive order at 11 a.m. promoting equity in sickle cell disease treatment. Click here to watch.

* Here’s the rest…

    * Center for Illinois Politics | Has Illinois gotten bluer? Really, not so much – A look back at what Primary Election data shows: In truth, despite regular headlines about voter apathy, Illinois primary voter turnout has not budged all that much over a 40-year stretch, though the numbers of Democrats and Republicans heading to the spring polls has fluctuated by more than 20 points depending on the given election year, data shows.

    * WaPo | U.S. courts clarify policy limiting ‘judge shopping’: In the Friday memo, the committee said it was providing instructions on how to deter judge-shopping, not issuing a direct mandate, which would conflict with chief judges’ case assignment authority. The policies and the accompanying guidance “should not be viewed as impairing a court’s authority or discretion,” Jackie Koszczuk, spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, said. “Rather, they set out various ways for courts to align their case assignment practices with the long-standing Judicial Conference policy of random case assignment.”

    * Sun-Times | Facebook threatens to take away news posts in Illinois. Really? Hasn’t it messed with our democracy enough?: As many outlets have seen, including this one, traffic to news articles from platforms like Facebook, owned by Meta, has slowed to a trickle. We have more than 412,000 followers, who are surely following us because they want local news. Yet we are days away from the Illinois primary, and our election-related posts have reached a fraction of our followers, compared with past years.

    * Eye On Illinois | House GOP targeting licensing delays with commonsense proposals: State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, filed the bill Jan. 30. As of Tuesday, it was assigned to the Health Care License Committee, concurrent with a House Republican press conference at which Hauter explained the intent. “Illinois is losing highly compensated, highly trained individuals like physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, physical therapists, veterinarians and many more to other states,” Hauter said. “Why? Because we can’t get our licensing act together.”

    * Crain’s | How one agency is scouting the globe for Illinois connections: Intersect Illinois was founded in 2016 with the backing of Illinois’ Republican governor at the time, Bruce Rauner, in an effort to privatize the process of luring new business to the state. When he took office Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued his support for the organization, which currently gets more of its money to operate — it employs a staff of 18 and has offices in the Loop — from public sources than private.

    * Tribune | Plan to rebuild Stateville prison provokes varied reactions from unions, local politicians: “Closing facilities even temporarily would disrupt and potentially destabilize the prison system, while bringing upheaval to the lives of affected employees and individuals in custody,” American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said in a statement. An outside review reported a year ago that Stateville and Logan were both nearly “inoperable” in their current condition. The governor’s office called AFSCME’s concerns about the project “unusual” given the union’s “continued demands to increase the safety and security of the work environment” of its members.

    * BND | Under budget crunch, metro-east city plans EMS layoffs, service cuts to neighboring towns: The service is funded in a combination of property taxes and fee services. But the city is limited by state statute in how much property tax they can levy, and calls covered by Medicaid and Medicare only pay 55 percent of the estimated costs of the service. Approximately 60-70 percent of the calls are Medicaid or Medicare, according to city leaders. That means the service has been losing money.

    * Tribune | What you need to know about Bring Chicago Home: The measure, centered on raising the city’s real estate transfer tax for property sales above $1 million, has taken a bumpy and winding road to get there, including an eleventh-hour court fight from the real estate lobby. Should it prevail, the referendum would be the first win from Brandon Johnson’s “tax the rich” agenda that he campaigned on during the 2023 mayoral race.

    * Center Square | Teacher unions backing downstate Republicans ‘very rare,’ says researcher: According to Open Secrets data, the total given to Democrats in the 2021-2022 election cycle from teachers unions’ political action committees is over $4 million. Only $24,000 was given to Republicans nationwide. Sarah Bryner, the Open Secrets director of research and strategy, said it’s very rare you’ll see large sums of money going to Republican primary races.

    * PJ Star | ‘I had no say’: Why new Illinois law requires child social media influencers to be paid: “As a former content kid myself, I know what it’s like to grow up with a digital footprint I never asked for,” influencer turned activist Cam Barrett told Maryland lawmakers. “As my mom posted to the world my first-ever menstrual cycle, as she posted to the world the intimate details about me being adopted, her platform grew and I had no say in what was posted.”

    * BND | Madison County chairman ‘reconsidered’ campaign donors, accepts funds from vendors: Prenzler, 68, of Edwardsville, is the incumbent facing current county treasurer Chris Slusser, 46, of Wood River on the March 19 ballot. Slusser has alleged that Prenzler has accepted more than $80,000 in donations from county vendors, after he pledged in 2016 that he would not accept donations from anyone who does business with Madison County.

    * Tribune | Solutions for gun violence, support for Palestine top Chicago students’ priorities at early voting event: The Student Power Forum and Parade to the Polls, hosted by Chicago Votes, La Casa Norte and the Chicago Teachers Union, took students of voting age at participating district high schools out of the classroom for the morning on a district-approved field trip to the CTU headquarters to make posters, learn about candidates and march to the polls together.

    * SJ-R | ‘Ready to put in our two cents.’ First-time Springfield voters make their way to the polls: Elliott Woehrmann, a senior at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, said he viewed voting as a crucial part of the democratic process. “We’re speaking our opinion by voting for the candidate that we want to govern us and vote on policies we agree with,” he said.

    * WBEZ | Who’s giving the big money in Illinois to Biden and Trump?: The major super PAC bolstering the Biden bid is the FF PAC, established by Future Forward USA Action, with four contributors from Chicago, including Fred Eychaner the top executive of Newsweb Corp. and the chairman and president of the Alphawood Foundation.

    * Sun-Times | Muslim community leaders urge Illinois voters to protest Biden by writing in ‘Gaza’ on primary ballot: “Uncommitted” isn’t a ballot option in Illinois, so groups are instead calling voters to either leave the presidential ticket blank or write in “Gaza.” The Chicago area is home to the largest Palestinian population in the U.S. “Our goal is to turn out 200,000 Muslim, Arab, and ally voters in Illinois — the state with the largest per capita Muslim population in the nation,” read a flyer from the Muslim Civic Coalition, a Chicago-based advocacy group that is encouraging Muslim citizens to register to vote and participate in elections.

    * WGN | Rep. Jesus ‘Chuy García and Ald. Raymond Lopez face off in race for seat in Illinois’s 4th congressional district: “Ray Lopez is the most conservative alderman in City Council, he’s out front on issues including immigration and public safety. You have Chuy García who was kind of the darling of what was the left and then continued to be the far-left movement. He’s also been out front in public safety, but more in the comprehensive criminal justice reform space, ” political strategist Lisa Duarte said.

    * IEANEA | Illinois Education Association honors Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and former co- director of Citizen Action/Illinois: Today the Illinois Education Association (IEA) honored Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and William McNary for their commitment to public education. Welch was honored with the IEA “Friend of Education.” McNary was awarded the IEA “President’s” award.

    * Block Club | Confusion, Lack Of Information At Migrant Shelters As Evictions Begin Sunday: Fellow Venezuelan migrant Jorge Luis Rangel said he also had a Sunday exit date, but he was asked to leave the shelter 10 days before with a group of about 15 migrants. He has slept in a car outside the Elston shelter since then, and he stays around the area in the day, he said.

    * Sun-Times | Chicago slowly starts evicting migrants from shelters: Of the nearly three dozen migrants expected to be evicted from shelters Sunday as the city began enforcing Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration’s 60-day shelter stay rule, just three were removed. The city confirmed Sunday afternoon that the remaining 31 migrants were given extensions; 27 because they are still in the process of applying for public benefits and four due to pregnancy or disability.

    * Tribune | Behind the wheel without a license: Migrants buying cars to make a life in Chicago: The Tribune focused on arrestees born in Venezuela because census figures show few native Venezuelans lived in Chicago before Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began busing migrants north 18 months ago, and city officials say that Venezuelans make up the majority of the over 37,000 migrants who’ve arrived since. The Tribune analysis found a stark rise in arrests since last summer, increasingly tied to driving or vehicle infractions. In February, for example, of all arrests of native Venezuelans, 6 in 10 listed the primary offense as driving- or vehicle-related. For other arrestees, the rate was closer to one in seven.

    * CBS | Boeing 737 Max engine issue will take up to a year to fix, company tells lawmakers: In written responses to questions from Sen. Tammy Duckworth, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, obtained exclusively by CBS News, Boeing says it has assembled a team of technical experts to “quickly drive forward a safe and compliant solution” to an issue that could cause the 737 Max engine anti-ice system to overheat and damage the engine.

    * WGN | Viewing the total solar eclipse? Experts say it’s all or nothing: “Eclipse chasing is a thing, kind of like storm chasing, but less dangerous and more expensive,” said Dr. Angela Speck, a co-chairperson for the American Astronomical Society’s Solar Eclipse Task Force.

    * Crain’s | An Irish name isn’t the instant clout-getter that it used to be for Chicago pols: Once the St. Patrick’s Day event of the season where mayors and gubernatorial candidates endured cheers and jeers, there’s a conspicuous absence of political activity at this year’s parade. Mayor Brandon Johnson won’t march, nor will Cook County state’s attorney candidate and retired justice Eileen O’Neill Burke. U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, the incumbent for Illinois’ 6th Congressional District, is scheduled, though he already leads his opponents in fundraising.

    * Tribune | Edward Dunne, an early 20th century Chicago mayor and Illinois governor, pushed for an independent Ireland: Dunne, the American-born son of an Irish nationalist and the only person to serve as both Chicago’s mayor and Illinois’ governor, had taken up the cause championed by his father. He was a founder of the Irish Fellowship Club along with several regular lunch mates at Vogelsang’s Restaurant in Chicago.

  13 Comments      


Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

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Live coverage

Monday, Mar 18, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller

* You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.

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* Hexaware: Your Globally Local IT Services Partner
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