* Press Release | Jobs Up in Most Metro Areas in September: Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in eleven metropolitan areas and decreased in three for the year ending September 2023, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in all fourteen metropolitan areas.
* Illinois Times: Unsung Hero: Emma Shafer: Emma Shafer, 24, was a much-beloved community activist, friend an d family member whose life was taken suddenly and far too soon on July 11, 2023. Her life and her death have greatly impacted our community. Emma was involved in a multitude of social justice and community activist groups including Resistor Sisterhood, Faith Coalition for the Common Good, Sierra Club (Sangamon Valley), Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network, Moms Demand Action and many more. Emma often hosted “soup night” at her home to encourage activists of different causes to share ideas, debate topics and develop friendships. Her vibrant smile, bountiful hugs, hilarious sense of humor, thrift-store fashion and a serious passion for equity attracted people from all walks of life.
* WCIA | NTSB releases initial report on Teutopolis HAZMAT crash: The NTSB found that the Sept. 29 crash was caused by a car trying to pass the truck in a no-passing zone, right as another car was driving the opposite direction. To avoid a collision between the two cars, the truck driver said he steered to the right. The truck went off Route 40 and into a roadside ditch, hitting a 12-inch metal culvert in the process. The truck jackknifed and rolled onto its right side.
* Crain’s | Bally’s gets approval to operate at Medinah Temple until 2026: The board unanimously approved converting Bally’s temporary operating permit into a full casino license, which will not only be valid for the Medinah Temple, but also for the company’s future 505,000-square-foot casino along the Chicago River between Grand and Chicago avenues in River West, according to Gaming Board spokeswoman Elizabeth Kaufman.
* Peoria Journal Star | Here’s what Illinois lawmakers are saying about the new House speaker: Illinois Republican Darin LaHood, who represents Peoria in the 16th District, said he was proud to support Johnson as the next speaker. “Mike is a family man who understands the importance of advancing conservative policies that promote individual liberty, rein in spending, and secure the border, while also conducting needed oversight of the Biden Administration,” LaHood said in a statement. “Mike can unite our Conference and I look forward to working with him to deliver results for central and northwestern Illinois.”
* Farm Week | One Earth Energy proposes CO2 pipeline project: One Earth Sequestration, a Ford County-based firm, filed Oct. 18 its Application for Certificate of Authority (CoA) with the Illinois Commerce Commission to construct in Illinois the 7.34-mile One Earth Sequestration (OES) Pipeline. The project represents the third proposed CO2 pipeline before the ICC, after Wolf Carbon Solutions applied to build 166 miles of the Mt. Simon Hub Pipeline and Navigator CO2 Ventures moved to build 292 miles of the Heartland Greenway Pipeline System in Illinois.
* Pekin Daily Times | ‘Not for the people’: Tazewell board hears more opposition to CO2 pipeline: “These proposed pipelines are coming with one goal: to make money for their bottom line and their investors, not for the people,” said Elton Rocke, spokesperson for the Facebook group Tazewell County: Stop the CO2 Pipeline. “Although Wolf cites pipeline safety, they have partnered with Archer Daniel Midland, whose deplorable business record over the last 20 published years is almost $1 million in paid fines and penalties. These include OSHA violations, EPA violations and price fixing.”
* WIFR | Stephenson County Sheriff defends deputy, denounces Oath Keepers: [Stephenson County Sheriff Steve Stovall] states Schroeder was first introduced to the Oath Keepers in 2010 by a friend that he had made during his time serving in the National Guard. According to Stovall, the friend told Schroeder that the group was “pro-law enforcement, pro-military, and a way to interact with fellow law enforcement officers and military personnel.” Schroeder then received a link to join the group online in which he accepted. A year later, in 2011, the deputy then changed his email address and had no continued contact with the group. Stovall noted that during this period Schroeder never attended an in-person meeting or had face-to-face interactions with any members of the Oath Keepers.
* Journal Standard | Stephenson County officials call for investigation into reported Oath Keeper ties: Wednesday, Jodi Coss, chair of the Stephenson County Democratic Party, said any officers’ affiliation with the group should be a concern to all residents regardless of their political affiliation. […] Coss said she is trying to determine if Schroeder’s ties to the group are a violation of the sheriff’s department’s code of ethics or code of conduct.
* Crain’s | Appeals court upholds $2.67 billion Blue Cross settlement: A federal appeals court has rejected an effort by Home Depot and other employers to revise a $2.67 billion antitrust settlement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The plaintiffs argued that the deal, which a district court approved last year, favors fully insured Blue Cross and Blue Shield customers over self-insured employers. In a decision handed down Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit rejected their plea and ordered the agreement to proceed as the lower court instructed.
* Crain’s | Pressure rises on both sides of anti-homelessness tax plan: Supporters of the Bring Chicago Home ordinance, which would raise the transfer tax on property sales worth $1 million and up, have a planned protest march at 10 a.m. in front of the Michigan Avenue offices of the Chicago Association of Realtors. The activists will deliver a “cease and desist” letter, in which they demand the city and state real estate associations quit lobbying against the proposal, according to a press release announcing the protest.
* South Side Weekly | Workers Put Pressure on CTA to Improve Working Conditions: “The CTA has been saving money hand over fist, cutting back on labor, quadrupling productivity.…It’s a superhuman ability of these train operators, what they’re doing now,” Basir said. “I always wanted to be a motorman ever since I was little. But I grew up when there were conductors [and] two-person crews. They’re undergoing so much mental [and] physical trauma. They say this is the most hated job—train operators. And it’s highly exploitative.”
* Tribune | 1.6 million acres of Great Plains grasslands were destroyed in 2021 alone, World Wildlife Fund says: Most grassland plowing has been occurring on private land as landowners have the option to plow, whether to make room for crops or commercial development. For instance, in March the Rockford International Airport began construction in the Bell Bowl Prairie, home of the endangered rusty patched bumblebee, to make way for a roadway. Meanwhile, very little federal-owned land can be plowed, Bolt said. In Illinois, the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, about an hour outside Chicago, serves as an example of nearly 9,000 acres of protected grassland.
* Crain’s | Ford deal a ’stunning victory’ for union: Employees were called off picket lines shortly after the deal was reached, and many have been placed on temporary layoff as they await notification to return to work in the coming days, according to some who spoke with Crain’s sister publication Automotive News. That slow restart could add to Ford’s financial losses from the strike, which J.P. Morgan estimated Thursday at slightly more than $1 billion. Ford plans to release its third-quarter results Thursday afternoon, but it’s unclear whether executives will provide additional details on the tentative deal.
* Crain’s | Big Shoulders Fund Ball breaks attendance record in support of student scholarships: The 17th annual Big Shoulders Fund Ball was held in Wintrust’s Grand Banking Hall on Sept. 29 where a gathering of more than 500 set an attendance record for this event. Presented by the organization’s Next Generation Boards, the fundraiser brought in more than $200,000 to help provide a quality, values-based education for underserved children.
* News-Gazette | Nonprofit ecstatic over farm donation: The president of a Vermilion County-based nonprofit that serves special-needs individuals said board members and staff there are “just over the moon” with the gift of a 16-acre farm near Rankin that is likely to one day turn into a residential facility. The Wheeler Foundation board voted to donate the property to WorkSource Enterprises of Danville. President Todd Seabaugh said WorkSource works with developmentally disabled adults, assisting them with activities of daily living to increase their independence “to live in the community at the highest level possible.”
* Axios | X usage plummets in Musk’s first year: App downloads fell roughly 38% globally between October 2022 and September 2023, according to Sensor Tower estimates. In the U.S., mobile app downloads fell 57% in the same time period. Data from Data.AI, another app tracking firm, shows similar trends.
* Jim O’Donnell | From father to son, Bagent family line is all about confidence and winning: If Bagent and his laser release can emerge from the bright lights, big venue of Sofi Stadium at 2-0, more people will start to believe. What they’ll be believing is that he may be one of the most confident, efficient, adaptable young quarterbacks in the history of the Chicago Bears.
An Illinois House Democrat has been trying to phase out the sub-minimum wages for workers with developmental and intellectual disabilities since 2019. During this past legislative session, the Dignity in Pay Act failed to gain enough support after an intense debate.
Rep. Theresa Mah (D-Chicago) believes that the state should empower people with disabilities to maximize their employment and self-sufficiency. Mah believes it is wrong that some disabled workers are being paid much less than the state’s minimum wage and it is past time to eliminate the sub-minimum wage.
However, other lawmakers, such as State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) and State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) believe a lot of these workers will be without jobs if the bill passes. Severin had this to say…
“In talking with the the workshops in Southern Illinois, they said, you know, not only does this impact the people that are working now, but it prohibits those that want to come come in that would qualify and would come to a workshop to work. Those young people that are coming out of schools that are qualifying for opportunities to come to workshops and those types of facilities. It prohibits them the opportunity to have a job. So this is a very important issue, and we need to stand firm across both sides of the aisle.”
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to annually review and update the underlying data for, and use of, indicators used to determine whether a community is designated as an environmental justice community and to establish a process by which communities not designated as environmental justice communities may petition for such a designation. Provides that an applicant for a permit for the construction of a new source that will become a major source subject to the Clean Air Act Permit Program to be located in an environmental justice community or a new source that has or will require a federally enforceable State operating permit and that will be located in an environmental justice community must conduct a public meeting prior to submission of the permit application and must submit with the permit application an environmental justice assessment identifying the potential environmental and health impacts to the area associated with the proposed project. Provides requirements for the environmental justice assessment. Provides that a supplemental fee of $100,000 for each construction permit application shall be assessed if the construction permit application is subject to the requirements regarding the construction of a new source located in an environmental justice community. Contains provisions regarding public participation requirements for permitting transactions in an environmental justice community. Provides that, if the Agency grants a permit to construct, modify, or operate a facility that emits air pollutants and is classified as a minor source, a third party may petition the Pollution Control Board for a hearing to contest the issuance of the permit. Contains provisions regarding environmental justice grievances. Defines terms. Contains other provisions.
Amends the Election Code. Provides that an election authority may elect to mail a vote by mail ballot to all qualified voters instead of sending notices and applications for permanent vote by mail status. Requires the election authority to make a list of all voters to whom the vote by mail ballots will be sent, publicly post that list, and send the list to the State Board of Elections. Provides that a person who has never voted before may not be sent a vote by mail ballot under the provisions unless the person first provides the election authority with sufficient proof of identity and the election authority verifies the person’s proof of identity. Provides that a person may request, in writing, to the election authority that the person not receive a ballot sent under the provisions. Provides that the election authority shall keep a record of a person who has made a request and, in all future elections following receipt of the request, shall instead send the person who made the request a notice and application for permanent vote by mail status.
Amends the Administration Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that notwithstanding any other law or rule to the contrary and subject to federal approval, when calculating a household unit’s monthly earned income for purposes of determining eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the Department of Human Services shall only consider the household unit’s monthly after-tax income, as defined. Requires the Department to also disregard any change in a household unit’s monthly earned income due to any minimum wage increase implemented on or after January 1, 2023 in accordance with any State law or county or municipal ordinance. Requires the Department to apply for any federal approvals required to implement the provisions of the amendatory Act. Permits the Department to adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of the amendatory Act.
Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services shall direct all State-operated developmental centers to conduct all interviews and testing of an applicant applying for a position as a mental health technician in a single day at the facility at which the applicant is applying for employment. Provides that, if the applicant passes the initial interview and testing process, any required drug testing and background check shall be completed at the direction of the State-operated developmental center within 7 days after the date of the initial interview and testing. Provides that, if the applicant is found to be eligible for employment as a mental health technician, the State-operated developmental center shall, within 30 days after the initial interview and testing, notify the applicant of its decision and inform the applicant of the date of his or her first day of employment at the facility. Provides that the Department may adopt rules necessary to implement and administer the provisions.
* SB382 is in the House after passing the Senate 57-0 yesterday…
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Civil Remedies for Nonconsensual Dissemination of Private Sexual Images Act. Changes the definition of “depicted individual” to mean an individual whose face or body (rather than only body) is shown, in whole or in part, in a private sexual image or digitally altered sexual image (rather than only a private sexual image). Defines “digitally altered sexual image” to mean any visual media, including any photograph, film, videotape digital recording, or other similar medium, that is created or substantially altered so that it would falsely appear to a reasonable person to be an authentic depiction of the appearance or conduct, or the absence of the appearance or conduct, of an individual depicted in the media. Provides that a person is not liable under the Act if the person proves that the dissemination of or a threat to disseminate a digitally altered sexual image was made in good faith, made in good faith in the reporting or investigation of unlawful conduct or unsolicited and unwelcome conduct, or related to a matter of public concern.
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Identification Act and the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that an applicant for an identification card or driver’s license who is an employee of the Department of Children and Family Services with a job title of “Child Protection Specialist Trainee”, “Child Protection Specialist”, “Child Protection Advanced Specialist”, “Child Welfare Specialist Trainee”, “Child Welfare Specialist”, or “Child Welfare Advanced Specialist” may elect to use his or her office or work address in lieu of the applicant’s residence or mailing address on an application for an identification card or driver’s license. Effective January 1, 2024.
* From Gov. Pritzker’s amendatory veto message on HB3445…
House Bill 3445 contains many valuable provisions to advance energy policy in Illinois. However, the right of first refusal language inserted by Senate Amendment 4 will eliminate competition and raise costs for rate payers by giving incumbent utility providers in the MISO region a monopoly over new transmission lines. Raising costs for rate payers is particularly concerning in the MISO region, where there is currently over $3.6 billion in planned transmission construction in the Ameren service territory.
Without competition, Ameren ratepayers in downstate Illinois will see higher electricity bills to pay for the higher cost of these transmission projects. Competitively bidding transmission construction, instead of giving the utility a monopoly, has been proven to lower project costs significantly.
Just last year, the federal Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission criticized a similar right-of-first-refusal proposal at the federal level, citing the benefits of competition to consumers through lower rates, improved service, and increased innovation. (Comment of U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to Building for the Future Through Electric Regional Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation and Generator Interconnection, FERC Docket No. RM21-17-000 (Aug. 17, 2022)).
My administration has always been committed to working with stakeholders and our partners in the General Assembly to enact meaningful energy policy. However, I cannot support the ROFR provision of this legislation that will unnecessarily put a higher cost burden on consumers.
• FERC has fallen short – Out-of-state energy developers embrace the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) model because, absent state intervention, it bypasses local control and increases their profits. But the reality is these FERC policies have failed to produce innovations or generate cost reductions for expanding the nation’s electrical grid transmission capabilities. According to a recent study, “… competitive solicitations have not delivered innovation, cost savings, or timely development of transmission… it is important to consider the real results of competitive processes to date, compared against claims of significant cost savings.”
• ROFR maintains competition – At Ameren, our contractors earn their opportunities through a competitive bidding process. Under ROFR, Ameren will maintain the competitive bidding we have always utilized when building transmission lines. Maintaining Ameren’s current ability to build needed transmission lines ensures projects are not awarded to out-of-state developers with no vested interest in Illinois.
• ROFR holds down costs – At Ameren, we have a responsibility to build and manage transmission projects in a cost-effective manner to keep rates reasonable. Here’s an example of what can happen in Illinois if transmission development costs from out-of-state developers are not closely managed, with oversight given to Washington D.C.: A non-incumbent developer recently asked FERC to allow it to recover more than double the cost of a 125-mile transmission line project in California. The developer “won” the project with a bid of $259 million and asked FERC to allow it to charge consumers $553.3 million. If ROFR does not become law today, potential cost overruns by out-of-state developers with a track record of project mismanagement will drive costs higher and raise customer bills.
• ROFR protects local jobs – Without local-build provisions, the outsourcing of transmission construction to inexperienced non-union workers and out-of-state entities is imminent. Illinois-based contractors will be shut out of significant transmission work. Our local communities will lose the high-paying skilled jobs and the resulting economic benefits. Safety and reliability will be compromised.
• ROFR ensures service reliability – Contrary to what you’re being told, Illinois-regulated utilities like Ameren are the only companies capable of accelerating construction of new transmission lines on our systems. If ROFR does not become law today, construction delays will risk realization of reliability and clean energy benefits for downstate customers.
Corey Stone with Illinois Brotherhood of Electric Workers 51 said out-of-state companies that could land these projects won’t use Illinois workers.
“These members and the members of the other Illinois labor unions who work on these transmission projects live here, are active in their community, and contribute to the Illinois economy,” Stone said during a Wednesday news conference in Springfield.
State Rep. Larry Walsh, the Elwood Democrat who sponsored the original measure, vowed to return in the spring with an even broader proposal to give utilities statewide the permanent right of first refusal on transmission projects. That would include scandal-plagued Commonwealth Edison. […]
It’s unclear whether such a campaign would prove convincing to Pritzker, who could once again wield his veto pen to stop it from becoming law.
Beyond the controversy surrounding the right of first refusal, transmission line construction has become a front line in the fight over climate change in recent years, particularly regarding who will profit from and regulate new construction.
This is because as new energy sources like solar or wind farms come online, they need new lines to deliver their power to the grid.
The International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental advisory group based in Paris, released a report this month that found the world will need to build or replace around 50 million miles of grid by 2040 to meet clean energy goals, which is roughly equivalent to replacing the entire current global grid. That report also found grids are becoming a “bottleneck” in the transition to zero-emission electricity systems.
Eight states in MISO have right-of-first-refusal laws on the books. Many were enacted after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2011 eliminated the federal right-of-first refusal for regionally-planned transmission lines in hopes of spurring more competition and lower costs.
* Rep. Ann Williams, who chairs the House Energy & Environment Committee…
I agree that we must use skilled Illinois union labor for these energy-related infrastructure projects. I look forward to more conversations this spring with organized labor, Ameren and environmental advocates to consider transmission issues as part of a broader conversation about creating the infrastructure to ensure a clean energy future, build capacity, put consumers first, and address the climate crisis.
Rep. Williams’ statement leads us to this…
* The Question: Would you support statewide Right of First Refusal for incumbent utilities like Ameren and ComEd, or a statewide law mandating the work be done with requirements like project labor agreements and prevailing wage, which is the same standard for large wind and solar projects? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please.
A 2023 Available to All report found that 24 states criminalize address-sharing—a practice where parents falsify their address to gain access to a public school other than their assigned one. Parents caught doing so can face hefty consequences, including being incarcerated in 20 states and fined in 16 states. For example, parents caught address-sharing in Texas can receive maximum prison sentences of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of $10,000. Robust open enrollment laws, however, can reduce the number of families risking address-sharing since it weakens the tie between housing and schooling. […]
Reason Foundation finds there are five key components to robust open enrollment laws. While no state has fully adopted all five best practices yet, six states have adopted at least four of them.
Reason’s Five Best Practices for Open Enrollment
#1 Statewide Cross-District Open Enrollment
School districts are required to have a cross-district enrollment policy and are only permitted to reject transfer students for limited reasons, such as school capacity.
#2 Statewide Within-District Open Enrollment
School districts are required to have a within-district enrollment policy that allows students to transfer schools within the school district, and are only permitted to reject transfer requests for limited reasons, such as school capacity.
#3 Transparent Reporting by the State Education Agency (SEA)
The State Education Agency annually collects and publicly reports key open enrollment data by school district including transfer students accepted, transfer applications rejected, and the reasons for rejections.
#4 Transparent School District Reporting
Districts are annually required to publicly report seating capacity by school and grade level so families can easily access data on available seats. Open enrollment policies, including all applicable deadlines and application procedures, must be posted on school districts’ websites.
#5 Children Have Free Access to All Public Schools
School districts should not charge families transfer tuition.
Remember, this is about public schools, not private or parochial.
Illinois meets none of Reason’s best practices policy goals and criminalizes
unsanctioned student transfers.
Students can transfer schools under very limited circumstances in Illinois, such as specific agreements between districts. School districts can charge cross-district transfers tuition. In fact, parents who knowingly enroll in a nonresident district and try to avoid paying tuition are guilty of a class C misdemeanor, which can result in up to 30 days of imprisonment and a fine of up to $2,300.
Within-district transfers are voluntary as districts have significant discretion regarding eligible transfers. For instance, districts can reject within-district transfer applications because the applicant doesn’t meet academic criteria required for enrollment at a particular school (as set by the LEA).
Unfortunately, the Prairie State’s transfer policy is weak on transparency. The state doesn’t require districts to post their available capacity on their websites, nor is the SEA required to collect and publish open enrollment data, such as the number of transfers and the reasons transfer applications are rejected
Illinois policymakers can improve their open enrollment options in three main ways:
● Require districts to participate in statewide cross-district open enrollment and require them to post about these options on district websites.
● Require districts to participate in statewide within-district open enrollment and require them to post about this option on district websites.
● Require districts to post their available capacity on their websites.
Thursday, Oct 26, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Carbon capture and storage, or “CCS,” is a technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at their source and stores them deep underground. CCS is a proven and safe process and the Illinois State Geologic Survey has confirmed that our state’s geology is perfectly suited for this technology. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) enforces federal requirements to regulate the safety of the pipelines that will support CCS.
In addition to delivering a cleaner environment, CCS will generate $3.3 billion in value for the region and could spur 14,440 jobs. Now is the time to bring carbon capture technology and its environmental and economic benefits to Illinois. Policymakers must pass legislation to advance CCS and bring this opportunity to Illinois.
* United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District Of Illinois, Judge Mary P. Gorman…
Before the Court after trial is a Motion for Sanctions Under 11 U.S.C. §362(k) for Violations of the Automatic Stay, filed by the Debtor, Riley N. Craig, against Tom DeVore. For the reasons set forth herein, Mr. DeVore will be found to have willfully violated the automatic stay and will be sanctioned.
Mr. DeVore does not dispute that he knew of the Debtor’s bankruptcy filing when he took the actions complained of in the Motion for Sanctions. Because he knew of the bankruptcy but proceeded with state court litigation even after being advised by the Debtor’s attorney that he was violating the stay, his conduct was willful. Mr. DeVore has never sought relief from the stay. His conduct therefore constituted willful and, as will be explained below, egregious violations of the stay and will result in the imposition of sanctions.
The Debtor is entitled to an award of her actual damages including her costs and fees and, under the circumstances, an award of punitive damages. The Debtor testified that she hired counsel and paid him a $3000 flat fee to defend her against the petition for order of protection filed by Mr. DeVore. Because the filing of the petition violated the stay, she is entitled to an award of $3000 in actual damages.
The Debtor is also entitled to have the fees she incurred with Attorney Pioletti related to these issues paid by Mr. DeVore. Attorney Pioletti filed an itemization of his time showing the expenditure of 4.06 hours dealing with the stay violation issues before the hearing. He said that his time on the day of the hearing consisted of a 1.5 hour drive each way between his office and the courthouse and the 3.5 hours spent at the evidentiary hearing. He said that he charged $275 per hour. Attorney Pioletti’s total claim amounts to 10.56 hours at $275 per hour. Because both his rate and the amount of time expended are reasonable, Attorney Pioletti will be awarded $2904, to be paid by Mr. DeVore.
Because this Court finds Mr. DeVore’s stay violations to be egregious and his conduct to be both disingenuous and dishonest, punitive damages will be awarded here. […]
All the factors support an award of punitive damages here. Mr. DeVore’s conduct was indefensible. […]
The Court will award to the Debtor punitive damages in the amount of $7500 to be paid by Mr. DeVore. This amount is less that the $20,000 the Debtor requested but hopefully is enough to make Mr. DeVore change his behavior. The award is just a little more than the amount awarded for actual damages. Thus, it may get Mr. DeVore’s attention and cause him to realize that he must respect the law and the orders of this Court or bear the consequences of his actions. If the sanctions imposed are not enough to get Mr. DeVore’s attention, future violations should be brought to the Court’s attention and additional sanctions may issue. […]
Mr. DeVore’s violations were willful and egregious; his conduct was highly unprofessional. The Debtor will be awarded her actual damages, her attorney fees, and punitive damages.
The evidence presented at the hearing suggests that Mr. DeVore not only violated the automatic stay but that he also may have violated several Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. The Debtor’s unrebutted testimony was that she began an intimate, personal relationship with Mr. DeVore after he began representing her and while he was still representing her in legal matters. The Rules prohibit such conduct by lawyers. The evidence also established that Mr. DeVore was the lawyer who drafted the documents for the creation of Future You, a business that he owned with the Debtor. Under the Rules, strict guidelines apply when an attorney goes into business with a client. The Debtor’s unrebutted testimony that she was confused about what she was signing when Mr. DeVore told her to sign the Future You operating agreement without reading it suggests that the strict guidelines were not followed. The nature of their personal relationship, as well as Mr. DeVore’s stated opinions about the Debtor’s business acumen and her reliance on his judgment and expertise, would certainly complicate any effort to satisfy the requirements of Rule 1.8(a) and likely implicate Rule 1.7 as well. In addition, Mr. DeVore’s petition for order of protection contained frivolous and false allegations such as his assertion that the Debtor was restraining or interfering with his personal liberty; his own testimony was that he had not been in direct contact with the Debtor for more than six weeks before he filed for the order of protection and his main complaint against her was that she refused to communicate with him. The filing of frivolous pleadings is prohibited, and attorneys may not make false statements of law or fact to a tribunal. Rule 4.2 limits an attorney’s ability to communicate with a person they know is represented by counsel. Notwithstanding the fact that the Debtor was represented by counsel in her bankruptcy, Mr. DeVore repeatedly contacted her directly, suggesting several times that he was free to do so because no attorney was representing her in the Bond County lawsuit. But the Bond County lawsuit was filed in violation of the stay and sought to address matters exclusively within this Court’s jurisdiction—matters for which Attorney Pioletti was clearly representing the Debtor. Attorney Pioletti’s time records show at least one communication on June 12, 2023, asking Mr. DeVore to stop contacting the Debtor directly. Mr. DeVore apparently ignored that request. He continued to try to bootstrap an argument that, because he—in violation of the stay—filed actions in state court where Attorney Pioletti did not have an appearance on file, he could then communicate directly with the Debtor about her property, debts, and other matters involved in her bankruptcy. Such conduct is prohibited by the Rules.
The investigation and determination of whether violations of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct actually occurred here is within the jurisdiction of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission and the Illinois Supreme Court; the appropriate referral for investigation will be made.
* ICYMI: Legislative staff unionization bill faces uncertain future in Senate. Hannah Meisel…
-HB4148 passed 74-35 out of the House.
-Senate leaders have not said if they will take it up during fall session.
- Republicans largely voted against the bill.
* Tribune | Gov. J.B. Pritzker, never shy about criticizing Republicans, calls for ‘common ground’ at national conference: On Wednesday, at a national political conference of progressives in Washington, the second-term governor with potential presidential aspirations presented a new political style — conciliator. “I’m just saying leadership in this time means putting in check sometimes your emotions about the attacks that are coming and instead trying to find common ground to work with one another because we have to bring the temperature down in this country and talk to one another, whatever party we belong to or whatever ideology we may have, because we have so much to accomplish,” Pritzker told an audience at the progressive Center for American Progress annual ideas conference.
* Sun-Times | Chicago-area retiree opens home to migrants — ‘new family members’ — stuck at police stations: A retiree with terminal cancer, Elaine Pierce made a cocoon in her home, surrounding herself with her daughter, books and movies. It was a solitude she needed, yet she gave it up recently for something more important — to help families in crisis, opening her Oak Park bungalow to migrant families without a home. “I only wish I could do more,” Pierce told the Sun-Times.
* Tribune | Suburban school district reconsiders postponing Hampshire’s spring musical about gay teens after student and parent outcry: The theater student was eager for the reveal of this year’s selection of “The Prom,” a comedic musical about a school that tries to cancel a dance to prevent a gay student from attending. The 18-year-old said this year’s production meant more than usual because it was a chance for theater kids, some part of the LGBTQ+ community, to feel represented in their craft. But then district administrators stepped in. They shut down the announcement, telling students in a meeting last Friday that they wouldn’t allow the music department to put on the show this year due to safety concerns, he said.
* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…
* WAND | Senate approves bill providing faith based food options in public schools, correctional facilities: Senate Bill 457 could require all Illinois public schools, state correctional facilities and the University of Illinois hospital in Chicago to offer the faith based food options if requested. If signed by the governor, ISBE would be tasked with entering into statewide master contracts from vendors across the state.
* WTTW | Lawmakers Push for Compensation for Chicago’s Elected School Board: Sponsoring state Sen. Robert Martwick, a Democrat who represents parts of the city’s Northwest Side, said if Chicago wants a diverse school board, it needs to remove barriers — like a lack of pay — that would prevent some residents from running for board seats.
* WMCL | Legislators share concerns bout bill impacting workers with disabilities: Rep. Theresa Mah (D-Chicago) believes that the state should empower people with disabilities to maximize their employment and self-sufficiency. Mah believes it is wrong that some disabled workers are being paid much less than the state’s minimum wage and it is past time to eliminate the sub-minimum wage. However, other lawmakers, such as State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) and State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) believe a lot of these workers will be without jobs if the bill passes.
* Center Square | Who covers EV charger costs for homes main focus of Illinois mandate: On Wednesday, legislators discussed a trailer bill in Senate Bill 384, which changes the language of the original measure by changing multi-unit residential buildings to multi-family residential buildings with parking spaces constructed after the act’s effective date. Feigenholtz defended the measure during Senate debates, saying this would not increase costs for property owners.
* Commercial-News | IGB to act on permanent casino license: Five months after Golden Nugget Danville Casino received a temporary operating permit to open, Danville Development LLC will be going before the Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday for the casino’s permanent license.
* VCF | Resolution Passed by Illinois House Honoring Memory of State Rep Bill Black: The Illinois House of Representatives Wednesday adopted House Resolution 409 which mourns the passing of former Illinois State Representative and Assistant Minority Leader Bill Black of Danville. State Representative Mike Marron (R-Fithian) sponsored the resolution and spoke about his mentor on the House floor before its adoption.
* Sun-Times | Highland Park massacre suspect keeps phone privileges despite rant that FBI staged attack: The Highland Park massacre suspect sent a video message from Lake County Jail claiming the attack was staged by federal agents, raising questions about his access to communications as he awaits trial on charges of killing seven people and wounding dozens more. The woman who recorded the Sept. 21 call was found to have violated jail rules and was banned from making further video calls with inmates. But Robert E. Crimo III hasn’t been disciplined and is allowed to make calls from a tablet in his cell, according to the Lake County sheriff’s office.
* NYT | U.A.W. and Ford Reach Tentative Contract Agreement: The union said the deal included a roughly 25 percent pay increase over four years, cost-of-living wage adjustments, major gains on pensions and job security, and the right to strike over plant closures. It called on striking Ford workers to go back to work while the tentative agreement awaits ratification.
Cristobal Santana, a suspect wanted in connection with the murder of Adrianna Lopez, was taken into custody today after allegedly shooting an Illinois State Police trooper in Springfield, IL. According to media reports, Ms. Lopez had an order of protection against Mr. Santana, her ex-boyfriend, after a recent altercation.
Amanda Pyron, Executive Director of The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, released the following statement:
“We grieve for the family and friends of Adrianna Lopez as yet again, the combination of domestic violence and firearms has resulted in a tragic, deadly outcome. Last year, Chicago saw 36 firearm-involved domestic violence homicides and 79 non-fatal domestic violence shootings. When domestic violence survivors go to the courts for an order of protection, we must ensure that protection works — especially when a firearm is involved. For Adrianna Lopez, we failed.
“While we are still learning of the specifics of this case, we again urge the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation like ‘Karina’s Bill’ to help clarify and strengthen the law around firearms and orders of protection. The heart-wrenching murder of Adrianna Lopez is yet another devastating reminder of our collective failure to protect domestic violence survivors from firearms. We must act now.”
Related…
Recognizing the Illinois State Police trooper shot last night in Springfield by a murder suspect from Chicago, Rep. Fritts says the trooper is engaged to his legislative staffer. Called for leaders to pronounce support for police. Moment of silence recognized. pic.twitter.com/W8xmHvvwxS
Three months after Governor JB Pritzker vetoed a bill that would provide halal and kosher food options to students upon request in Illinois public schools in addition to those options being available at state facilities and the University of Illinois Hospital, State Senator Ram Villivalam passed a measure that was agreed upon by stakeholders and the governor.
“I am proud of our collaborative work to make the technical changes requested by the governor to ensure the successful implementation of this legislation,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “We are recognizing the cultural needs of our community and this is a big step for families who eat kosher or halal. Everyone deserves to have an option that fits their needs and feel included.”
Villivalam worked alongside the governor to pass an agreed-upon bill that will provide culturally appropriate lunches to those who request.
“This bill will allow students to have halal and kosher lunch options regardless of where they reside in the state of Illinois,” said State Representative Kevin Olickal (D-Skokie). “This is yet another example of Illinois’ commitment to being a welcoming and accepting state.”
Specifically in public schools, the legislation would require the Illinois State Board of Education to enter into statewide master contracts from vendors across the state and give school districts access to the contract so they can more efficiently provide meals to students. […]
The prepackaged meals for schools would be required to meet both state and federal nutritional guidelines for school lunch programs. […]
The bill would only require a school district to provide the meals as long as ISBE is able to enter into any master contracts they may have. […]
Senate Bill 457 passed the Senate Wednesday and heads to the House for further consideration.
* ILGOP…
The Illinois Republican Party is thrilled to announce that Senator John Kennedy will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural “Bank Your Vote” Gala. The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, February 9, 2024, at the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont.
The “Bank Your Vote” Gala is the first of a new annual tradition promoting the importance of utilizing early voting, vote by mail, and other pre-election day methods to energize the Republican base entering this election year.
Senator John Kennedy has been a strong advocate for conservative principles in the U.S. Senate, most recently putting Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias on the defensive regarding pornography in books available in public school libraries accessible to children.
The Bank Your Vote initiative is a national effort aimed at supporting early voting and Get Out The Vote programs. It’s a unified effort led by the Republican National Committee displaying the commitment of Republicans to facilitating early voting.
In her address to the nation, Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel emphasizes the significance of early voting and its crucial role in our democratic process. Watch the RNC video here.
Stay tuned for more details as the February 9th Bank Your Vote Gala approaches.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* WBEZ | Illinois is looking to overhaul how kids learn to read: The effort by the Illinois State Board of Education is part of a national movement to update reading instruction. A main goal is to match what science says about the way kids learn. To learn more, WBEZ talked to Tinaya York, a former Chicago Public Schools leader who now coaches school administrators. York worked with other educators around the state to write the first draft of Illinois’ literacy plan.
* Chalkbeat | Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces new agency to oversee early childhood: An advisory committee will provide input and gather feedback. It will be led by Bela Moté, the chief executive officer of the Carole Robertson Center for Learning, the governor’s office said. Creating a separate agency focused on early childhood is another step in Pritzker’s work to make Illinois “number one” for child care access. In last year’s budget, the governor announced a $250 million four-year effort to expand preschool and child care.
* SJ-R | Illinois joins states filing suit against Facebook and Instagram’s parent company Meta: In the lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the states say the company has profited from how it has designed Instagram and Facebook to maximize time spent on the platforms by teens and children, which led to increased advertising revenue. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said practices enacted by Meta have had major consequences on the mental health of young people, citing increases in depression, anxiety and body image dysmorphia.
* Daily Herald | Why land at center of fight in South Barrington could be headed to auction again: A Schaumburg-based nonprofit group called Fourth Avenue Gospel Building Inc. was the lone bidder for the property at a May auction, offering to pay about $1.7 million. […] Dozens of residents protested against the sale once the potential buyer was identified this summer, and eventually the deal was canceled.
* WCIA | Champaign schools seek second chance at ARPA funds, unveil new plan to curb gun violence: Earlier this month, some parents and students were upset when they found out they hadn’t yet used the money they got last year. The Champaign Unit 4 School District got $526,620 last year to help fix the root causes of gun violence in the city, but things didn’t go according to plan. The money was left sitting after the district’s plan fell through, which included hiring more staff to focus on the issue. Officials said they didn’t get enough suitable applicants.
* PJ Star | Peoria won’t move forward with a water buyout. Here’s what led to the decision: Peoria will not be purchasing the city’s water infrastructure from Illinois American Water — at least for the next five years. The Peoria City Council voted 7-4 on Tuesday night not to move forward with buying the water utility from Illinois American, a decision the council must make every five years
* Block Club | Person Charged In Lincoln Square Halloween Decoration Fires: Someone has set at least 10 fires this month in the Lincoln Square and Roscoe Village neighborhoods, apparently targeting Halloween and autumn displays on sidewalks and residential porches as well as street-corner garbage cans, police said. […] It is not clear if Munoz will be charged in the other fires. Munoz is due in court Wednesday and more charges could be forthcoming, Ald. Matt Martin (47th) said in an email to constituents Wednesday.
* WBEZ | Is CTA getting better? We asked hundreds of riders.: Out of more than 460 riders who responded to a WBEZ survey in September and October, the majority said their opinion of CTA has either stayed the same (49.1%) or diminished (25.9%) in the last year. Only 20% of respondents say their opinion has improved. (The riders surveyed were among a larger pool of 2,000 who took an unofficial WBEZ survey about a year ago; we wanted to go back to the same riders and find out if things had improved.)
* AP | House chooses speaker — Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana has Trump’s backing: Republicans eagerly elected Rep. Mike Johnson as House speaker Wednesday, elevating a deeply conservative but lesser-known leader to the seat of U.S. power and ending for now the political chaos in their majority. Johnson of Louisiana swept on the first ballot with support from all Republicans anxious to put the past weeks of tumult behind and get on with the business of governing.
* Crain’s | American Airlines will dial up O’Hare service next year: American, the second-largest carrier at O’Hare, says it’s scheduled to fly 10% more seats in April 2024 than it did during the same month this year. With the launch of daily service from Chicago to Venice next summer, American says that it will have the same number of international destinations as it did before the COVID pandemic.
* AP | UAW appears to be moving toward a potential deal with Ford that could end strike: The United Auto Workers union appears to be edging closer to a tentative contract agreement with Ford that would be critical to ending the union’s 6-week-old strikes against the three major Detroit automakers, two people with knowledge of the talks said Wednesday. The people said the union made a counter-offer to Ford that proposes a 25% general wage increase over the life of a new four-year contract and said that negotiations on Tuesday extended well into Wednesday morning. Previously Ford, Stellantis and General Motors had all offered 23% pay increases.
Wednesday, Oct 25, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
We’ve been listening carefully to the governor, legislative leaders, and many members of the legislature about how to make the Tax Credit Scholarship better – and we now have an amended program proposal that does exactly that. Thousands of vulnerable kids are counting on us to put them before politics.
In response to direct feedback, our bill offers substantive improvements along with good-faith compromises which justify extending the Tax Credit Scholarship Program:
1. Add a new priority level of scholarship recipients from the most under-served areas of Illinois to create opportunities for thousands of primarily Black and Latino children. Donors will be incentivized to prioritize helping this new “Region 7” beyond the thousands of other kids who qualify based on financial need.
2. Reduce the overall size of the program to $50MM (down from $75MM) and reduce the individual giving cap to $500,000 (down from $1MM).
3. Reduce the tax credit for donors to 55% (down from 75%).
4. Encourage more middle-income donors by crediting donations of up to $5,000 with a 100% tax credit.
Illinois, let’s do the right thing. It’s about the kids, not the politics. Save the scholarships.
With the surge in migrants coming to Illinois, State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) has filed legislation to repeal the TRUST Act, ending Illinois’ status as a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants. The Illinois TRUST Act, enacted in 2017, made Illinois a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants. The TRUST Act prohibits local law enforcement in Illinois from participating in immigration enforcement.
No federal law compels law enforcement in Illinois to assist with or participate in any immigration enforcement action. At the state level, Illinois law generally prohibits participation in immigration enforcement by state and local law enforcement. For example, a local law enforcement agency in Illinois cannot: give an immigration agent access to individuals in its custody; detain individuals pursuant to a federal administrative warrant; detain individuals pursuant to an immigration detainer request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); or share information about individuals in its custody with federal immigration authorities. Importantly, local law enforcement officers cannot arrest an individual for violation of a federal law without a warrant unless state law has granted them authority to do so, and Illinois law prohibits local law enforcement from stopping, arresting, searching, or detaining an individual based on his or her citizenship or immigration status. […]
The federal government cannot require local law enforcement to enforce federal law.
Also, asylum seekers are here legally, as Governor Pritzker pointed out again earlier this month.
And Heather Cherone from WTTW wrote an explainer about why Chicago’s status as a sanctuary city has nothing to do with the arrival of asylum seekers….
Chicago’s status as a sanctuary city does not require it to encourage immigrants to move to Chicago nor does the Welcoming City ordinance obligate officials to use taxpayer funds to care for immigrants in Chicago.
In addition, the 18,500 migrants sent to Chicago so far are in the country legally after requesting asylum after fleeing persecution and economic collapse. The ordinance focuses on protections for undocumented immigrants, so it does not apply to any of the migrants.
* HB4194 is sponsored by Reps. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, Lisa Hernandez, Kelly Burke and Marty Moylan…
Amends the Invest in Kids Act. Provides that a taxpayer may take a credit under the Act for tax years ending before January 1, 2029 (currently January 1, 2024). Provides that, beginning in calendar year 2024, the aggregate amount of credits the Department of Revenue may award under the Act in any calendar year may not exceed $50,000,000 (currently, $75,000,000). Provides that contributions under the Act may be directed to students whose permanent address is located in an underserved area but may not be directed to a particular student. Provides that, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, the amount of the credit under the Act shall be 100% of the first $5,000 in contributions made by the taxpayer during the taxable year, plus (i) 55% of the portion of the qualified contributions made by the taxpayer that exceeds the first $5,000 and is not directed to students whose permanent address is located in an underserved area and (ii) 65% of the of the portion of the qualified contributions made by the taxpayer that exceeds the first $5,000 and is directed to students whose permanent address is located in an underserved area. Effective immediately.
In Springfield, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a Hillside Democrat, won Executive Committee approval for a proposal allowing legislative staff, from partisan analysts to custodians, to join a collective bargaining unit. It would exclude managers and other confidential employees engaged in shaping policy.
“Something I remain firm on is that this legislation must give employees equal opportunity to join a union and make their voices heard,” Welch said.
Legislative staff jobs are taxing, with long hours. They also provide valuable experience and lead to future careers as lobbyists, liaisons with state agencies and even legislators, said Kelly Kupris, a House education analyst representing the Illinois Legislative Staff Association. But Kupris told the committee there is too much turnover and that a survey of staffers found that more than three-quarters struggle to pay bills and more than one-third have taken a second job.
Minimum starting salary for a legislative coordinator, which requires helping members develop their agendas, draft bills and follow them through the process, among other things, is $43,000, along with health and life insurance and a state pension.
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a Fleet Electrification Incentive Program to provide fleet owners and operators in the State grants to promote the use of eligible electric vehicles. Provides that the Program shall offer qualifying purchasers a grant up to specified base amounts toward the purchase of eligible electric vehicles based on the Class of vehicle. Requires the Agency to award grants under the Program on a competitive basis according to the availability of funding. Provides that to be eligible to receive a grant under the Program a purchaser must satisfy all of the required criteria. Provides that the Agency shall give weight to an application based upon the potential impact of the geographic location and route of the purchaser’s fleet on pollution affecting an equity investment eligible community. Requires the Agency to ensure that resale of a vehicle serving a public school or located within an equity investment eligible community shall result in the vehicle servicing a similarly situated community. Provides that grants under the Program may be combined with other public incentives but the total of governmental incentives shall not exceed a maximum of 80% of the purchase price of the vehicle. Requires the Agency to set aside 20% of the appropriated funds under the Program for grants to the purchaser of electric school buses. Provides that all awards granted are subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.
Amends the Courses of Study Article of the School Code. In the provisions concerning required high school courses, allows a pupil to take one year of a foreign language course (rather than 2 years), if, upon completing one year of foreign language coursework, the pupil, the pupil’s parent or guardian, and the school counselor meet to discuss the pupil’s postsecondary education or career goals, and, at that meeting, it is determined (i) that the pupil will take one year of career and technical education coursework, (ii) that a second year of foreign language coursework will limit the pupil’s access to career and technical education coursework, and (iii) that the pupil does not need a second year of foreign language coursework to meet the pupil’s postsecondary education and career goals. Provides that, following this meeting, the pupil’s parent or guardian may opt the pupil out of a second year of foreign language coursework in a form and manner that is prescribed by the State Board of Education. Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in this State. Provides that a university may not require a public high school student to have completed 2 years of foreign language coursework while in high school if it was determined in high school that the student was not required to and the student’s parent or guardian opted the student out. Provides that if the student completed only one year of foreign language coursework in high school, the university may require the student to take no less than one year of foreign language coursework while enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at the university. Effective immediately.
Amends the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. Provides that the definition of “employer” does not include forest preserve districts organized under the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act or the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act.
* As I told you the other day, the Democratic legislative leaders had not yet spoken with their respective caucuses about how best to address the terrorist attack on Israel and resulting war. Those conversations have now happened.
What I’m hearing today is that some Senators in both parties will rise to talk about the war’s impact on the people of their districts. Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) told me she plans to speak, for instance. At least one House Democrat will likely do the same (regarding the murder of Wadea Al-Fayoume). We’ll see what happens.
On the House floor, Minority Leader Tony McCombie made a statement on point of personal privilege condemning the attacks. Republican state Rep. Brad Halbrook discussed his bill, HR 449, in support of Israel, also on point of personal privilege.
And in a follow-up statement: Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin called it “completely shocking” that Democrats wouldn’t speak up on the issue.
Rep. McLaughlin is running against Democrat Maria Peterson, who is allied with Rep. Nabeela Syed, the first Muslim woman elected to the General Assembly. He’s made a campaign issue out of Rep. Syed signing the progressive legislators’ letter after the attack, hence his statement yesterday.
* The Democratic super-majority in the General Assembly has mostly avoided the trap that at least some Republicans appear eager to set by engaging in the same sort of divisive, over-the-top vitriol that has afflicted the Chicago city council, first on asylum-seekers and then on this topic. Yes, there was some back and forth online at first, but that seems to have faded away with time.
Not to say that there aren’t deep emotions on this. There most certainly are. But a choice has apparently been made by members to not let their emotions completely disrupt their ability to conduct actual state legislating going forward.
House debate is here. Senate debate is here. We’ll see what happens. The House has canceled Thursday’s session, by the way.
*** UPDATE *** The Senate’s process is beginning. Click here. Four members will be recognized to share points of information about “events and occurrences happening in their districts to reflect what’s going on in our larger world,” according to Senate President Harmon.
…Adding… Sen. Laura Fine is talking about how two Hamas kidnap victims live in her district. The two women have been released…
I have a responsibility to those constituents as well as the hundreds of others who have family in Israel to stand up today and speak. And so I stand before you today to say on behalf of my Jewish constituents and myself, never again. Never again will we allow this kind of hatred and anti-semitism that led to the murder of 6 million people in places like Auschwitz and Dachau. Our world has been shaken and forever changed, but we are resilient and we will go on. […]
As Illinois legislators we must recognize that this conflict has torn a rift between individuals and communities here at home and commit ourselves to fighting racism, Islamophobia, and anti-semitism here in our own state. I’ve spoken to parents of children who are afraid to go to school. There are Holocaust survivors who no longer feel safe out in the community. This state of fear and violence is not an inevitable outcome, and we must not accept it in Illinois. […]
I urge all of us to go forward as leaders in our community with love and hope in our hearts, and a lasting secure peace as our goal.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
…Adding… Sen. Sara Feigenholtz…
When we called our cousins in the Old City, our hearts were shattered. One cousin had gone to the Nova music festival and was unaccounted for. We didn’t know how he was but we prayed for his safe return. And we prayed day and night. Then on Monday, we got the call that every loved one dreads. This beautiful 23 year old innocent soul, who was just starting his life was brutally murdered, along with 260 other festival goers. I was shattered. My whole family was shattered at the news. […]
[Reading from a letter sent by a constituent] Last week, our family attended a peaceful Israel solidarity rally and prayer in Skokie, in a sweet little banquet hall in Skokie that’s often used for Bar Mitzvahs and weddings. And during this gathering, protesters who learned about the [event] on social media made sure that they shuttled from downtown to bring their violence and hatred of Jews to our neighborhood. And to be honest, I must tell you that I feel that this hatred is a different hatred. It’s a deeper and more violent, hatred, than I’ve ever felt in all of the chapters of my family’s history. No longer can I say that we are part of a big human family. We can no longer kid ourselves. There are monsters among us. This attack was an attack on all of us. It is here in America. […]
The hostility to Israel is palpable. First it was religion. Then it was race. And now that those prejudices are not popular, It’s about the land. The reasons seem to change over time, the hate stays the same. The common theme is Jews, that we are Jews. […]
Jewish constituents in their neighborhoods and across Illinois are scared. They need to know you and other leaders are working to make us safe. There must be consequences. against those who preach and encourage violence.
…Adding… Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel…
I’d like to take a moment to recognize Wadea Al-Fayoume, the little six year old Palestinian American boy who was tragically killed in Plainfield during a senseless hate crime. I’m heartbroken by the loss of this young, innocent life. No person should ever have to bury their child. My heart breaks for this family and for his family and for the many people who fear for their life and safety solely because of their beliefs or the way they look. We have to respect and honor every faith race and religion. Let us never forget that hate has no home, in our community, in our state, or across our nation. We must stand together against any form of hate. So I ask for a moment of silence for Wadea Al-Fayoume.
Wednesday, Oct 25, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department
[The following is a paid advertisement.]
Carbon capture and storage, or “CCS,” is a technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at their source and stores them deep underground. CCS is a proven and safe process and the Illinois State Geologic Survey has confirmed that our state’s geology is perfectly suited for this technology. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) enforces federal requirements to regulate the safety of the pipelines that will support CCS.
In addition to delivering a cleaner environment, CCS will generate $3.3 billion in value for the region and could spur 14,440 jobs. Now is the time to bring carbon capture technology and its environmental and economic benefits to Illinois. Policymakers must pass legislation to advance CCS and bring this opportunity to Illinois.
* Some background from the Tribune editorial board…
In Ameren’s downstate Illinois territory, more than $3.6 billion worth of new transmission lines is planned, Pritzker said in his veto message. The bill he vetoed would give Ameren “right of first refusal” over building and operating those, effectively elbowing out competitive bids that could lower costs for ratepayers.
A major national priority of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the measure is designed to ensure members of IBEW locals get all the work tied to the projects. It was an eleventh-hour push by Washington, D.C.-based IBEW President Kenneth Cooper, who called Illinois legislative leaders personally in the final days of the spring session, that got Springfield’s attention. Opponents were blindsided.
The bill passed the Senate with a comfortable veto-proof majority. The House sent it to the governor, but a large number of members choosing not to vote kept the margin short of the veto-proof threshold. […]
Of course, as is often the case in the utility business — dependent as it is on public officials, who must approve its rates — there’s no shortage of hypocrisy here. Ameren, whose parent company is based in St. Louis and operates throughout the Midwest, lobbied against a similar proposal seven years ago in Kansas when the incumbent utilities there wanted the monopoly and Ameren was interested in bidding on work. That was then, this is now, Ameren says.
The Trib’s editorial board has upped its game and it showed with that editorial.
Rright of first refusal is basically allowing the state of Illinois to give the incumbent utility first crack at building the transmission lines that we’ve had in the state for over the last 100 years to maintain their systems. And we’re gonna have more talk about what this policy does. But in my viewpoint, the simple fact of the matter is transmission lines and the electric grid is a regulated monopoly. Has been and always will. If we allow private entities to come in to build these transmission lines, you’ll have a patchwork of these systems throughout the state. And it’d be just like the tollway, six different companies own different sets of mileage. It’s not integrated into the way we should be doing things. I think it’s bad policy.
And our purpose here today is first and foremost to announce that we’re not going to try to override the veto the amendatory veto on House Bill 3445. We’re going to go and educate members, legislators. There was an argument that this thing was done in the dark, which it wasn’t. But the process is the process. We’re going to open that door. We’re going to put subject matters out in the spring. We’re going to work with legislators, the governor’s office, the rate-payers, the community on what right of first refusal,actually is. And when they hear that they’re going, I believe, agree with us. This is the right step for Illinois.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Toward the end of the press conference, Rep. Walsh, who chairs the House Public Utilities Committee, said this…
We’re looking at doing a full education swing in the spring, introduce a bill that puts the state of Illinois as a right of first refusal state for the whole state with no sunset.
“The whole state” would include ComEd’s turf. One of the ways that legislators have defended their votes is to differentiate Ameren, which has no history of federal corruption probes here, from ComEd, which most certainly does have a history of federal corruption probes here. If you thought this has been a heavy lift for Ameren, adding in ComEd is gonna be 10 times as difficult.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Rep. Ann Williams chairs the House Energy & Environment Committee…
I agree that we must use skilled Illinois union labor for these energy-related infrastructure projects. I look forward to more conversations this spring with organized labor, Ameren and environmental advocates to consider transmission issues as part of a broader conversation about creating the infrastructure to ensure a clean energy future, build capacity, put consumers first, and address the climate crisis.
[Yesterday], at the Carole Robertson Center for Early Learning, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the launch of a new, unified early childhood state agency-eliminating the need for multiple state agencies to administer the early childhood education and care system (ECEC) in Illinois. […]
The major programs that will be housed under the new agency will include the Early Childhood Block Grant at the Illinois State Board of Education, which funds the Preschool for All and the Prevention Initiative programs, the Child Care Assistance Program, Home Visiting, and Early Intervention programs at the Department of Human Services, and licensing for child care programs, which is currently administered by the Department of Children and Family Services.
Emphasis added because we talked about that topic last week. Some members of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules were furious at the way DCFS was handling child care licensing and said they wanted to move that function to another agency.
Well, they’re getting their wish.
* Meanwhile, it turns out that one of the child care associations which has been complaining to JCAR members and other legislators about the problems with DCFS licensing rules was totally shut out of the process to create this new unified early childhood agency. And it claims others were as well. Excerpt from a press release by the Illinois Directors and Owners of Childcare Centers (ILDOCC)…
We agree wholeheartedly that new leadership and a fresh approach is critical to rebuilding and strengthening childcare access in Illinois. And creating a single agency focused exclusively on this issue is a positive step forward.
However, even with today’s announcement, it is important to note that the biggest trade organizations that represent providers of child care in every corner of the state were not involved, consulted or informed prior to this morning’s event. This is an example of what providers have faced far too often — where policy decisions are made without the input of the front line experts that provide these services which are relied upon by working families in Illinois. […]
As an organization that represents nearly 1,000 separate childcare facilities in Illinois, we look forward to the promise of our inclusion in this process. More importantly, we look forward to working with our legislative champions to ensure this process improves the industry, addresses the long-standing staffing crisis crippling the industry, and increases access to affordable childcare in every corner of the state.
In other words, if the administration keeps freezing them out, they’ll work with sympathetic legislators to make sure their voices are heard.
…Adding… I just received a call from the governor’s office. They point out that ILDOCC’s only major issue is allowing unqualified people to staff daycare centers and the administration refuses to allow this to ever happen. They also rightly note that this consolidation has been in the works for some time now.
…Adding… ILDOCC…
Yesterday, ILDOCC was happy to praise and state our gratitude to Governor Pritzker for his announcement on creating a new state agency for early childhood education. The change in licensing from the Department of Children and Family Services is something for which this organization has advocated for years.
We also shared our desire to work with the Governor’s office and other stakeholders as this moves forward. As an organization that represents nearly 1,000 licensed childcare centers in the state of Illinois, it is our hope that providers who are doing the work of caring for children will get to have a voice in these decisions being made, and we look forward to the opportunity to work together on this issue.
We are, however, disappointed with the statement from the Governor’s office this morning in response to our statement yesterday. While it is true that ILDOCC believes strongly that on the job experience should be given greater consideration in licensing standards, this is neither the only issue on which we advocate, nor does our organization support policies that are against the best interests of the children and families we serve.
It remains our hope that the Governor’s commitment yesterday to work with all stakeholders was an honest step toward a better system in Illinois where all voices are heard, and that this morning’s statement from his office was an unfortunate mistake.
We continue to look forward to working with the administration on an inclusive, transparent process toward passing legislation that genuinely improves the system in Illinois, and finally addresses the long-standing staffing crisis that has plagued this industry.
Average daily jail populations in Winnebago County fell from 802 in August to 765 in September to 742 so far in October. The jail has a capacity for 1,300 inmates and the numbers include more than 100 defendants being held on federal charges.
That is the lowest the average daily jail population has been in Winnebago County since it averaged 735 inmates in August 2021, when the numbers were still being impacted by the global pandemic, Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana said.
Caruana said that it will likely take months to see how the pretrial fairness act will impact the jail.
So far, there have been few hearings in Winnebago County seeking the release of inmates held on bond from before the new law took effect, Caruana said. Numbers of the detained could swing back and forth when more are released under the new rules and then perhaps returned to jail for re-offending or missing court dates.
Other, smaller county jails in the region have seen larger percentage declines, but they had fewer inmates to start with.
* Meanwhile, some SAFE-T Act advocates were worried that they would see a big increase in the number of people confined by electronic monitoring. But here are Cook County’s numbers from the Chicago Reader…
The jail’s population has fallen about 10.7 percent since the law took effect.
There are, of course, individual cases that some are gnashing their teeth about, but some of those same accused criminals could’ve been on the street after paying cash bail under the old system, as we discussed just the other day.
* ICYMI: Veto session started off with Speaker Welch’s bill, that would allow the formation of a legislative staff union. State Journal-Register…
- The House Executive committee voted 8-4 with four Republican Reps. voting present to advance it to the House with an amendment to follow.
- The bill would apply to other employees serving the Illinois General Assembly such as janitors and doorkeepers.
- An amendment to the bill was filed late last night.
* 21st show | Pritzker’s National Ambitions: In 2022, Governor. JB Pritzker (D-Illinois) won reelection to lead The 21st state. But the billionaire governor continues to be the subject of national coverage. Pritzker’s name is often floated as a presidential candidate if President Joe Biden drops out of the the 2024 presidential race (Biden says he is running). In a 2022 interview, Pritzker told The 21st he is only focused on the state of Illinois. And recently, the governor launched a self-funded nationwide abortion rights advocacy organization. We’re talking to the writer of an in-depth profile story in The New Yorker on Gov. Pritzker.
* Tribune | Democratic legislators introduce bill to extend controversial private school tax credit program: In addition to extending the program through 2028, the proposal introduced Tuesday would reduce maximum annual contributions awarded by the state to $50 million from $75 million. Instead of the 75% tax credit, the donors would get a 100% credit for the first $5,000 they contribute, then a maximum 65% tax credit for any additional amount if the children they sponsor live in underserved communities and a 55% credit if the children don’t.
* Sun-Times | Chicago’s top cop vows ‘stringent’ efforts to root out officers with extremist ties after investigation by WBEZ, Sun-Times: “It serves the Chicago Police Department in no way, in no way good, to have members amongst our department who are filled with bias or members of hate groups,” Snelling said. “And we will not tolerate it.” His comments came days after WBEZ, the Sun-Times and the Organized Crime and Corruption Project began publishing a joint investigation, “Extremism in the Ranks,” which found 27 current and former Chicago police officers whose names appeared in leaked membership records for the Oath Keepers.
* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…
* Crain’s | J.B. Pritzker, Gavin Newsom juice Joe Biden’s campaign fundraising efforts: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has organized events with deep-pocketed donors, bringing in more than $1 million for Biden’s campaign, according to a person familiar with the fundraising. California’s Gavin Newsom is tapping grassroots contributors to ask them to pitch in small-dollar amounts, said the person, who requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.
* Tribune | Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposes new agency for early childhood services: The creation of a new agency, which would require legislative approval, is intended to cut red tape for both families who need services for their children and the outside agencies who provide them, said Pritzker, who has long touted his desire to make Illinois “the best place to raise a family.” Despite increases in funding for preschool programs and other early childhood initiatives, “it’s clear that we’re not yet organized at the state level to reach that goal,” Pritzker said during a new conference at the Carole Robertson Center for Learning in the North Lawndale neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side.
* Chalkbeat | Illinois lawmakers propose allowing Chicago’s school board members to be paid: State Sen. Robert Martwick and State Rep. Kam Buckner, who both represent parts of Chicago, announced at a press conference Tuesday morning a proposal to lift a prohibition in state law that prevents Chicago’s elected school board members from receiving compensation. The bills in the Senate and House, introduced during the fall’s veto session, would not mandate the school district to provide a salary or set minimums for how much school board members get paid.
* Tribune | Protesters scuffle with police ahead of emotional community meeting over tent city for migrants in Brighton Park: For the past week, protesters said they have been gathering daily, 24 hours a day, with signs in hand demanding the city halt the plan to turn the site into a tent city that would house about 2,000 migrants. City workers have been assessing the viability of the site, which has been unused since 2020 and records indicate is owned by Sanchez Paving Co., a private entity.
* Tribune | Residents’ uprising leads to rejection of multimillion dollar grant for migrant services in Joliet area: A copy of the grant application the Tribune acquired through a Freedom of Information Act request showed that the township had requested $12 million from the state, including $9 million for housing and shelter costs, three welcome centers and a medical clinic, and to hire 17 medical and social workers, four caseworkers and three paralegals. The reaction in Joliet reflects the opposition that Chicago and suburban officials have faced when trying to accommodate some 19,000 migrants who’ve been sent on buses to Chicago from the Mexican border.
* Chicago Reader | The end of money bond hasn’t led to an electronic monitoring spike in Chicago—for now: Since Illinois eliminated money bond, the number of people on electronic monitoring in Cook County dipped slightly from 1,846 the day before the law took effect to 1,831 on October 20. But it is too early to tell how long the success will last, says James Kilgore, advocacy and outreach director for the First Followers reentry program.
* Tribune | Man arrested after altercation with Chicago alderman: Charges were still pending as of Tuesday afternoon. But the 47-year-old’s wife identified him as the man who had been arrested, and said the 7th Ward alderman reached for her husband first because he was filming Mitchell for a TikTok video and Mitchell wanted him to stop.
* USA Today | There aren’t enough RSV shots for babies. Here’s the new CDC guidance on who can get them.: The tightened recommendations came as the CDC reported a spike in RSV cases nationwide. The cases are primarily concentrated in the southeastern U.S. where the agency issued a heath advisory last month. In the U.S., about 58,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized for RSV each year, and several hundred die annually of the disease.
* AP | Recovering from attack that killed Illinois boy, Palestinian American mother urges prayers for peace: Hanaan Shahin issued a statement Tuesday through the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations after meeting with the group’s executive director a day earlier. The written statement marked her first public comments since the brutal Oct. 14 attack that left her with more than a dozen stab wounds and stitches on her face.
