Afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Um, not really…
1) According to the polling memo itself, the program is supported by Illinoisans 56-25, not “two-thirds.” 2) We don’t know the wording of the poll’s support or oppose question because it was not in the polling memo. 3) Here are the pros and cons presented to respondents…
The donations qualify for a 75 percent state income tax credit. That’s money the state would’ve normally received.
* From Sen. Durbin…
* WAND TV…
* Update on yesterday’s story…
* Isabel’s roundup… * WBEZ | St. Louis groups seek to resettle Chicago migrants to boost workforce and population: The nonprofit International Institute of St. Louis is partnering with unions and philanthropic leaders to resettle hundreds — if not thousands — of Latin American migrants in their city. The goal is to bolster St. Louis’s workforce and stem its population decline. “It could be the potential for a great relationship between both cities,” said Karlos Ramirez, vice president of Latino outreach for the International Institute. “If the [migrants] are going to be in a better place, St. Louis is going to be in a better place, and Chicago is going to be in a better place, I think everybody wins.” * Block Club | At South Side Garden, Migrant Families Build A Community As ‘Burned Out’ Volunteers Ask For Help: There are 24 tents at the garden, 1812 W. Monterey Ave., sheltering roughly 100 asylum seekers. […] “You can only work it strongly for a few weeks at a time,” said Kathy Figel, director of the Edna White Community Garden, where the overflow of asylum seekers from the station have been sheltering in tents. “Then they have to take a break. That’s what happened to a lot of volunteers [who helped out in the summer.]” The city, Figel said, hasn’t provided anything. All funds and support has come from volunteers and even her own personal funds. * ABC Chicago | Alderman visiting Mexican border says disaster declaration needed to better help Chicago migrants: Among their first stops were shelters in El Paso run by nonprofits to help better establish connections between organizations in the Lone Star State and in the Windy City. But, even on their first day to the southern border, these city leaders are saying it is obvious that more help from the federal government is absolutely crucial. * NYT | Texas Has Bused 50,000 Migrants. Now It Wants to Arrest Them Instead.: Mr. Abbott is now pursuing an even more audacious effort: to change Texas law to make crossing the border from Mexico without authorization a state crime, allowing the police in Texas to arrest people coming across the Rio Grande, including asylum seekers. * NYT | Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois Starts Group to Promote Abortion Rights: A spokeswoman for Think Big America said the group was providing “financial and strategic support” to the campaigns in Ohio, Arizona and Nevada, including putting members on advisory boards, helping to develop messaging and analyzing polls. She added that it was also prepared to help with direct voter contact and, if applicable, legal challenges. * Capitol News Illinois | Assault weapon registration period remains open as Illinois State Police seeks further input: ISP says it plans to hold additional public hearings about that process and may refine the rules before they become permanent next year. “We are happy to address all questions and comments submitted to ISP and will be doing so in the weeks to come,” ISP said in a statement this week. * WGEM | JCAR members bash DCFS, reject daycare rule proposal: “We need daycares to get people back to work after COVID,” said Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford. “We need daycares to make sure that our kids are taken care of and not in unapproved places. We need just need daycares and, not just the rule, but the whole system has been very frustrating.” * Block Club | Chicago Top Cop Larry Snelling Says Technology Is ‘No. 1 Way’ To Fix Crime: “Officers have a focus” on using technology like license plate readers to identify drivers and stolen cars, which are often then used to commit more crimes, Snelling said. The department is also using “technology across borders” to identify people who travel between city police districts to commit robberies — a “pattern” leaders have noticed, Snelling said. * Sun-Times | Slain Palestinian American boy remembered: ‘We are Plainfield strong; we are here for Wadea’: “Tonight is to celebrate the life of this child and make sure that this does not happen again,” said Mohammed Faheem, president of American Muslims Assisting Neighbors, the Plainfield nonprofit that organized the vigil. “This is to express our solidarity as one community. Plainfield is a very welcoming community, and we want to make sure that people understand that.” * Shaw Local | Thousands attend vigil in Plainfield for slain Muslim boy: Nearly two thousand turned out in Plainfield Tuesday night to mourn the slaying of a Muslim boy and to oppose the hatred and prejudice that authorities said motived the attack on him and his mother. […] Wadea’s father Oday Al-Fayoume and several others spoke at the vigil. Among them was Zaki Basalath, of the Islamic Foundation of the Southwest Suburbs. * Tribune | Lawyers for ex-assistant state’s attorneys standing trial criticize handling of third Jackie Wilson trial in heated questioning of special prosecutors: The trial entered its second day Tuesday at the Rolling Meadows branch court in northwest suburban Cook County, with Wilson’s special prosecutors Lawrence Rosen and Myles O’Rourke taking the stand for hours. Rosen and O’Rourke dropped charges against Wilson after learning about Trutenko’s longtime friendship and recent contact with a witness they had been unable to locate. * Fox Chicago | $5 million in grants to help Cook County domestic violence victims: The grants were awarded to local nonprofits as part of the Cook County Domestic Violence Intervention and Support Services Initiative. Preckwinkle said the grants will change lives. “We cannot let these patterns continue,” Preckwinkle said. “This Domestic Violence Awareness Month we are making an important investment to disrupt this trend. We’re investing in programs and services that provide critical support to survivors and their families.” * ABC Chicago | Cook County domestic violence survivor center opens in Markham: The new facility is located in the basement of the Cook County Circuit Court Building in Markham, and it is out of public view. The center includes a private and comfortable space for victims to meet with advocates, a space for Zoom hearings and a children’s area. * PJ Star | Peoria City Council debates new $321 million proposed budget. Here’s what we know: The new budget proposed to the council by City Manager Patrick Urich and Finance Director Kyle Cratty for 2024 would have $321.8 million in spending — an increase of 5.4% from 2023. […] A major source of the revenue decline for 2024 is coming from a loss 26% decrease in corporate income and a 20% decrease in real estate transaction taxes and “some level of financial pullback in the economy.” * Block Club | Chicago State Unveils $250 Million Plan For 95th Street: The economic development plan targets 95th Street between King Drive and Cottage Grove Avenue. The plan recommends several projects on vacant land with a focus on adding to the community’s housing and retail options and improving pedestrian experiences, among other points. * Shaw Local | After McHenry rejects gravel mine, industry tries to show elected officials its benefits to county: In August, the McHenry City Council rejected a controversial plan to annex a proposed gravel mine to the city. On Thursday, the same business owner who submitted that proposal, Jack Pease, joined McHenry County officials for a tour of gravel pits. * SJ-R | Downtown Springfield Inc. holds 30th annual awards ceremony, dinner Wednesday: Downtown Springfield Inc. will hold its 30th annual awards and dinner at the Bank of Springfield (BoS) Center at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher will give her first State of Downtown address. It is DSI’s major fundraiser to support its work to revitalize downtown. * Crain’s | Fulton Market developer ditches luxury condo plan in favor of ‘modern social bathhouse’: It’s a sign that even the hot Fulton Market area isn’t immune to slowing condo demand in Chicago. The city’s condo market has been hit hard in the 2020s, with the slower-than-expected return of office workers and downtown draws like theaters struggling to regain pre-pandemic activity levels, as well as the perception that crime is out of control in and around downtown. * Streetsblog | Pedestrian fatally struck at Chicago/DLSD, which has stoplights, but no east-west crosswalks: According to the preliminary police report, on Tuesday, October 17, at about 5:25 a.m., two men were attempting to cross DLSD on foot on the 800 North block. The police report mentions that the men were “not in a crosswalk.”This intersection has stoplights in all directions to accommodate drivers entering and leaving the drive. But there are no east-west crosswalks here because pedestrians aren’t supposed to cross to and from the lake at this location. That must be confusing to some Chicago visitors trying to walk to the lakefront from Streeterville. * Crain’s | Hyde Park is the world’s 19th-coolest neighborhood: “Notable for being the home of the University of Chicago and President Barack Obama, Hyde Park embodies the spirit of a small town while providing all the amenities of a bustling metropolis,” according to Time Out’s sixth annual list, published Tuesday. * Esquire | The DOJ Is Cracking Down on the Dumbest Form of Climate Denialism: These are the folks driving the big rigs who have adapted their vehicles to belch as much carbon waste product as they can produce. It’s is an own-the-libs deal, as you’ve probably guessed. I gotcher climate change right here, Snowflake. Whoo-hoo! Mercy sakes alive, looks like we’ve got ourselves a cloud bank.
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After Bailey attack, Bost touts National Right to Life endorsement, tries to keep up on Trump
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Darren Bailey earlier this week…
Today’s Bost retort…
* Earlier this month… ![]() Bost gets in on the act…
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It’s just a bill
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Rep. Kam Buckner’s HB4168…
* Rep. Margaret Croke introduced HB4175…
* 25 News Now…
* Vandalia Radio…
Pritzker vetoed HB3445 in August. From the governor’s release…
* Rep. Jed Davis introduced HB4173 on Friday…
* Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado introduced HB4165 last week…
* HB4164 from Rep. La Shawn Ford…
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Today’s quotable
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * This has always been true to some extent, but feels like it’s even more true today. And it’s not just a national thing. Look at the news media coverage lavished on a small handful of state legislators and Chicago alderpersons who know exactly what to say and how to say it to get themselves on the teevee…
The people who do the actual work are usually not as astute about their media presence. Workhorses are rarely interviewed, and only rarely consent to interviews when asked. The difference between state/local and the DC crowd is that being a showhorse here doesn’t usually get you elevated into actual leadership positions because fellow members know the game and just smile and roll their eyes. Out there? Way too often, the clicks rule.
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New Yorker profiles Pritzker
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * I was interviewed for this New Yorker profile of Gov. JB Pritzker. The reporter covered some familiar ground, but he had stuff in here I didn’t know or didn’t quite absorb, like this bit about how Pritzker’s inherited wealth has tripled…
* The governor has told me off the record about this brutal focus group…
* Sad details about the death of his parents…
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More like this, please
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Dean Olsen at the Illinois Times…
Milhiser served as a United States Attorney from January of 2019 until 2021. He could’ve cashed in right away and gone into private practice, which is what most former US Attorneys do. It’s a little-discussed revolving door and they really make bank. Instead, he taught government, history and English at Lawrence Education Center, the Springfield Public Schools’ adult education program, and ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state. He then returned to work as an assistant state’s attorney handling felony cases. Milhiser was a solid state’s attorney, so I’m glad to see he’ll likely be appointed to fill the vacancy. We could use more public servants like him.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - A look at the leaders
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - More veto session preview stuff
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
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The CCS Opportunity In Illinois
Wednesday, Oct 18, 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.
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Supplement to today’s edition (Updated x4)
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Caption contest!
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * They seem pretty amused at something…
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Open thread
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on? Keep it Illinois-centric please…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Governor Pritzker launches abortion rights group Think Big America…
∙ The 19th: Think Big America, a 501(c)4 nonprofit, is Pritzker’s latest step to centralize and formalize that work. The organization is now funded just by Pritzker but will accept other donations, an aide said, and will contribute to ballot measure campaigns in Ohio and Nevada “in the coming days.” Several senior Pritzker advisers and other members of the governor’s campaign team will start to split their time with the new organization. ∙ Sun-Times: The creation of the group — and the split of political resources — further signals Pritzker is not mulling a presidential run next year, despite plenty of speculation. But it also raises his national profile and could set him up for a 2028 run. Pritzker’s staffers likened the group to Tom Steyer’s nonprofit NextGen America, which he created in 2013. It also helped lead up to a presidential run in 2019. * Pritzker launched the group with his own money, but will be accepting donations from elsewhere…
* Isabel’s top picks…
* Sun-Times | Chicago casino a sure bet for ramp-up in gambling addiction, experts say: Chicago-area addiction treatment experts who spoke with the Sun-Times said that while there hasn’t been an influx of people seeking help for gambling disorder since Bally’s opened downtown, they’re bracing for a steady increase in clients — just like they’ve seen after other gaming expansions in Illinois. * NPR | What was the impact of COVID on the Illinois teacher workforce? A new report examines what really happened: Is there a teacher shortage in Illinois? Which school positions are hard to staff? Did a ton of teachers leave the field during the pandemic? WNIJ’s Peter Medlin spoke with Robin Steans of Advance Illinois – a nonpartisan education policy organization — about their new report “The State of Our Educator Pipeline 2023” that set out to answer those questions and more. * Here’s the rest of your morning roundup… * Muddy River News | ‘People need to know they’re being heard’: Beardstown businessman to run for 99th District seat: When asked about what people aren’t being heard about, Snellgrove said abortion. “No preacher who I’ve ever been in front of has jumped up in the pulpit and said, ‘You know, abortion is OK, and it’s a good thing,’” he said. “That’s the number one thing that any churchgoer probably feels somewhere deep in their soul that needs to be changed … that should be changed.” * WAND | Gov. Pritzker announces tax relief for people, businesses affected by Middle East conflict: Gov. JB Pritzker announced tax relief for individuals and businesses affected by the attacks that took place in Israel a week ago and the resulting Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Impacted taxpayers may request to waive penalties and interest with the Illinois Department of Revenue if they cannot file their returns or make timely payments for income, withholding, sales, specialty, and excise taxes. * CBS Chicago | Illinois sees 44% more electric cars on the road in 2023: This year alone, there are 44% more electric vehicles on the roads than at this time last year. The state has awarded nearly $13 million for fast-charging ports. There’s also up to $4,000 in rebates for Illinois residents who buy electric cars. * Tribune | New CPD boss promises to balance reform and aggressive policing through transparency: “I don’t think we’ve done a very good job of explaining what real constitutional, proactive police work looks like,” Snelling said Tuesday. “The way that we balance this is to, one, be transparent about what we do. Sometimes police work does not look good. But if we can explain the constitutionality of stops, of our interactions with individuals, I think it’ll be a lot more palatable for those who just don’t understand what they’re looking at.” * Sun-Times | Outgoing Police Board president urges City Council to reject arbitrator’s ruling, says it would undermine police reform: The August ruling would allow Chicago police officers accused of the most serious wrongdoing and recommended for firings or suspensions longer than a year to bypass the board and take their cases to an independent arbitrator, who might be more sympathetic to their arguments and would hold proceedings on those cases behind closed doors. * Crain’s | The $5 million pot sweetener in Johnson’s $16.6 billion budget: For years, members of the City Council have been asking for additional funding to boost their office staff from three full-time employees to four in an effort to stay on top of connecting residents to city services through their ward offices, meeting with developers and shaping policy at City Hall. * NBC Chicago | Invoices show how millions of dollars flowed to Favorite Healthcare Staffing to staff migrant shelters: In the past year, city financial records show nearly $60 million has flowed to an out-of-state company, Favorite Healthcare Staffing, which holds the contract to staff the city’s migrant shelters. […] When it came to employees assigned to security, the invoices show that Favorite charged Chicago taxpayers a median payrate of $24,000 apiece for each security guard, for four weeks’ worth of work. That translates to an annual charge, for each security guard, of $312,000. * Daily Herald | Train horns return in some Lake County towns, for now : Following inspections, the Federal Railroad Administration mandated upgrades in seven communities including installation/maintenance of “No Train Horn” signs and changes in curb height and length, according to Molly Gillespie, Buffalo Grove’s director of communications and community engagement. The village is the point agency for the Lake County Quiet Zone, which temporarily was suspended Oct. 11. * The Telegraph | Striking statue of Jacksonville’s Civil War governor turns 100: The Yates statue was one of two sculptures dedicated in front of a sizable crowd on Oct. 16, 1923. The other was the likeness of John M. Palmer, a Carlinville man who was a Civil War corps commander, Illinois governor from 1869 to 1873, and U.S. senator from 1891 to 1897. * AP | Report: Young driver fatality rates have fallen sharply in the US, helped by education, technology: Using data from 2002-2021, a non-profit group of state highway safety offices says in the report made public Wednesday that fatal crashes involving a young driver fell by 38%, while deaths of young drivers dropped even more, by about 45%. For drivers 21 and older, fatal crashes rose 8% and deaths rose 11%. * Sun-Times | Metra to buy zero-emission, self-propelled rail cars with $169.3M federal grant: The grant supports the purchase of up to 16 train sets, with a new type of propulsion that could accelerate and brake faster than traditional trains. Buying the train sets would allow Metra to retire some of its oldest, most polluting diesel locomotives. If Metra could take 16 locomotives out of service six years earlier than planned, it would reduce Metra’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 567,000 tons over that period, said Metra spokesperson Michael Gillis. * NYT | Barnes & Noble Sets Itself Free: “Any design agency would have a heart attack if they could see what we’re doing,” James Daunt, the Barnes & Noble chief executive, said. “We don’t have any architect doing our design at any stage. There’s no interior designer.” * AP | Europe is looking to fight the flood of Chinese electric vehicles. But Europeans love them: Chinese EV makers are drawn to Europe because auto import tariffs are just 10% versus 27.5% in the U.S., independent auto analyst Matthias Schmidt said. Europe also has the world’s second-biggest EV battery market after China. Nevermind the geopolitics. Climate-conscious car buyers in Europe who are grappling with an increased cost of living rave about how Chinese EVs are affordable yet packed with features and stylish design. Concerns about the threat to local carmakers and jobs just aren’t a factor for them. * Sun-Times | Demolition of Thompson Center facade, atrium for Google makeover approved by city: The move isn’t a complete surprise. Renderings released after the tech giant’s takeover of the building last year show prospective views of the renovated edifice with new exterior and interior glazing that either abandoned or muted the building’s current blue, salmon and white color scheme — one of its signature features — and other architectural details.
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Live coverage
Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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The CCS Opportunity In Illinois
Tuesday, Oct 17, 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.
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Afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * From the FBI yesterday…
Click the pic for the entire graph, but this is the rate per 100,000 people, by year, with Illinois in blue and national rate in grey… ![]() That’s quite a steep drop-off compared to the national numbers (287 vs. 381 per 100,000 last year) * Illinois Policy Institute…
No reasons were given for why they don’t want him to run, but Biden is running, so the question is moot. The poll also found Pritzker’s job approval was at 48-47. It also found that 68 percent of Republican voters and 69 percent of Republican-leaning voters oppose vote-by-mail for elections in Illinois. Just 13 percent in both GOP categories strongly support mail-in voting. 89 percent of Democrats and 87 percent of Democratic-leaners support mail-in voting, while 7 and 9 percent, respectively, strongly oppose. * The video is here. Press release…
A few hours after sending out that press release, he sent out a fundraising email about the vests and other office improvements. * Letter to the editor published by Crain’s…
I mean, if you’re gonna leave, then leave already. * Thoughts?…
* Heh… * Background is here. I’ll finish with an animal story. Firefighters rescued a python yesterday during a fire at Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington… * Isabel’s roundup…
* WGEM | Agriculture Secretary visits Illinois, discusses sustainable farming: The U.S. has lost about 438,000 farms since 1981, according to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Stemming that tide was the main topic of conversation during his visit to a Kankakee County farm Monday. Vilsack spoke about agriculture’s struggles and what’s being done to make things better. * Herald-Whig | Illinois-led project to sequence soybean genomes, improve future crops: An ambitious effort led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the U.S. department of Energy Joint Genome Institute will sequence 400 soybean genomes to develop a “pangemone” — an attempt to characterize all the useful diversity in the genome to create an even more robust and resilient crop. * Journal Star | ‘What is in the food’: Peoria native creates documentary that explores farming methods: With the goal of demystifying organic agriculture, “Organic Rising” presents the two main forms of agriculture used in the U.S. and shows how truly different they are. The documentary delves into how agricultural practices impact both human health and the environment, and also explains the USDA organic regulatory process. Ultimately, the film aims to help consumers make informed choices to support a robust agricultural future. * Shaw Local | First American Bank fires Kane County as banking customer, citing security concerns: Kane County’s primary bank, with more than $40 million on deposit, fired the county as a customer, warning Treasurer Chris Lauzen he has until Nov. 30 to find a new bank, according to an Oct. 6. letter. The letter, from First American Bank, follows an earlier letter on Aug. 24 from bank officials that cited concerns with the county’s banking activities * Crain’s | Even with affordability shrinking, Chicago remains cheaper than most big cities: A buyer would need a household income of about $91,400 to afford that median-priced home in the Chicago area in August, according to a new report from Redfin, the online real estate marketplace. That’s the second-lowest income needed among the 10 largest U.S. metro areas. Only Philadelphians need a lower income — $75,003. * WBEZ | Here’s a look at how Toni Preckwinkle plans to improve the Forest Preserves next year: Toni Preckwinkle, who doubles as president of the district and Cook County boards, is pitching a proposed nearly $189 million budget for next year. That’s $6.6 million or nearly 4% more than this year’s budget. (For comparison, Preckwinkle is pitching a $9 billion budget for Cook County government.) * Sun-Times | Second-installment property tax bills in Cook County due Dec. 1: Cook County tax bills are sent twice a year. The first installment is typically due in March. In past years the second installment has been due in August, but bills were delayed this year and last year. Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi blamed the holdup on a lengthy assessment process and a computer system upgrade. * WTHI | Illinois students can show off their creativity in a state-wide art contest: The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the State Board of Education are sponsoring the competition. The theme is “I Wonder…” * WCIA | African cat owner asks for public attention and safety in Decatur search: Christopher Solomon bought the big cat in September and two weeks later it got out. He said after a week or so of it missing, he thought it was dead, but hearing about his pet’s sightings throughout Decatur reignited his hope and concern. * NBC Chicago | Bird migration 2023: When flyovers peak, and how many birds have crossed Illinois: According to the latest figures from BirdCast, nearly 8.5 million birds crossed Illinois between Monday night and Tuesday morning. At the peak of the migration, more than 13.5 million birds were estimated to be in flight over the state, according to BirdCast data. * NYT | To Save Monarch Butterflies, They Had to Silence the Lawn Mowers: For the past several years, Ms. Elman, 47, has been on a quest to help save monarchs, which are under consideration for the endangered species list. She does this by preventing milkweed, which grows wild in New York City, from being razed. […] Ms. Elman first started thinking about the wild milkweed four years ago, when she began rearing monarchs in her backyard in the Bellerose neighborhood of Queens. She was collecting the eggs from plants growing along highways in nearby northern Queens, but often she found the plants reduced to stubs. * Columbia Journalism Review | Trouble in Wyoming: When a GOP megadonor didn’t like the coverage he was getting from Wyoming’s newsrooms, he funded a new one. Now it’s pushing anti-trans talking points and climate misinformation. * Block Club Chicago | City Plans To Spend $1.5 Million More To Fight Rats In 2024: As Chicagoans filed over 50,000 rat complaints last year, the city’s Inspector General’s office said it would audit the bureau for being ill-prepared to handle the surge in complaints and failing to exterminate rodents efficiently.
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Question of the day
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * I’m not trying to single out one person here. It just brings up an important point. From Block Club Chicago…
Under current state law, the alderman could pay that fine with campaign funds. But there is some ambiguity in state law. From the Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling in Byron Sigcho-Lopez vs. Illinois State Board of Elections…
The State Board of Elections referred me to that ruling when it responded to my question…
* The Question: Should the Illinois General Assembly specifically prohibit elected officials from paying governmental ethics violation and similar fines with campaign funds, and require them to pay the fines with their own personal funds, perhaps deducted directly out of their government paychecks, or should this be left up to the State Board of Elections? Explain.
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Read beyond the headlines
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Crain’s…
* But, according to the article, almost half of those folks had other health coverage…
* A large number no longer met income requirements…
* And while 69 percent didn’t submit the required paperwork, a big chunk have filed paperwork to be reinstated…
It seems that many of those who didn’t submit the paperwork may have known they weren’t eligible anyway.
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Fingers crossed
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * This likely has as much to do with the situation in the Middle East as the migrants, or maybe even more. But if it helps staunch the flow out of Venezuela, that’ll certainly help. Washington Post…
* AP…
* BBC…
* Reuters…
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Ald. Walter Burnett says he’s telling commercial building owners to stop offering space to the city for migrants
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller * Leigh Giangreco and Justin Laurence for Crain’s…
Thoughts? * Related…
* City’s Spending Plan For Migrants Doesn’t Add Up, Critics Say: But alderpeople during Monday’s budget hearing remained skeptical the city is allocating enough for 2024, and they worried the council will be asked to come back to approve additional funds throughout the year. Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th), chair of the council’s Committee on Immigration and Refugee Rights, said the city should prepare for a “worst-case scenario” plan in case outside funding sources did not come through. “As people have been kind of mentioning almost ad nauseam, it looks like we’d run out of those funds before the year is over. I get that the answer we’re hearing is what we’re hoping that the state or the federal government are going to provide the funding and make up the gap. But hope isn’t a strategy,” Vasquez said. * Renderings show proposed Chicago migrant base camp: There are multiple areas for housing, a few for sanitation, a central location for dining, and a spot for intake. The draft takes up almost an entire city block and borders residential homes as well as Metra tracks. The developments contradict what CBS 2 heard from Alderwoman Julia Ramirez (12th) whose office told CBS 2 she was unaware of crews working here on Monday. Ramirez’s office maintains the city only told her they’re “surveying” the area, though the Johnson administration does not need aldermanic approval to move forward with a base camp.
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Do The Right Thing – Extend The Tax Credit Scholarship
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] If the General Assembly fails to take action to save the Tax Credit Scholarship Program, then over 9,500 students from low-income families will lose their scholarships, causing many to leave their best-fit schools. The kids who stand to lose opportunities are 20% Black and 30% Hispanic – proportions considerably higher than demographic populations in Illinois — and 100% of these students are from families with demonstrated financial need. Additionally, 26,000 more students from low-income and working-class families sit anxiously on the waitlist hoping to receive the same opportunities as some of their peers. This program is an investment in poverty reduction and economic acceleration, so lawmakers should do the right thing: Extend the Tax Credit Scholarship Program.
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Open thread
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Hundreds attended funeral of Palestinian boy, landlord detained on murder and hate crime charges. Tribune…
- Landlord, Joseph Czubam made his first court appearance Monday, where he was denied pre-trial release. * Related stories… ∙ NYT: Muslim Boy, 6, Is Mourned After Illinois Attack Linked to Mideast War ∙ NBC Chicago: Funeral held for Illinois Muslim boy stabbed to death in Plainfield ∙ AP: Mourners in heavily Palestinian Chicago suburb remember Muslim boy killed as kind and energetic * Isabel’s top picks… * Tribune | Lawyers for ex-Ald. Edward Burke confirm they will call alderman turned government mole Daniel Solis as a defense witness: The announcement by Burke’s high-powered defense team comes a month after prosecutors left Solis off their witness list, saying they planned to introduce dozens of undercover audio and video recording Solis made in the bombshell investigation through other witnesses. * NYT | Longer Commutes, Shorter Lives: The Costs of Not Investing in America: The speed at which people can get from one place to another is one of the most basic measures of a society’s sophistication. It affects economic productivity and human happiness; academic research has found that commuting makes people more unhappy than almost any other daily activity. Yet in one area of U.S. travel after another, progress has largely stopped over the past half-century. * Crain’s | City reups contract with Jones Lang LaSalle to scout sites for migrant housing: In August 2018, the city inked a contract worth $2.3 million with JLL for site reviews, appraisals and brokerage services. That contract expired this year on Aug. 5, but was extended to 2025, spokesman Michael Grimm said in an email to Crain’s. The city’s contracting website does not list an extension and Grimm did not share further information on the cost of the contract. * Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…
* Tribune | Ald. Jim Gardiner hit with $20,000 fine for ethics violations: The Chicago Board of Ethics on Monday fined Northwest Side Ald. Jim Gardiner $20,000 after he was accused of retaliating against a constituent and vocal critic by directing city staff to issue bogus citations against the resident for overgrown weeds and rodents in September 2019. * Tribune | Mayor Brandon Johnson announces citywide composting initiative amid promises to reopen long-shuttered Department of Environment: The city of Minneapolis reported that it diverted over 35% of its municipal waste from landfills in 2022. Just over 19% of the diverted waste was recycled and over 16% of it was composted. These numbers offer a promising outlook for Chicago’s new initiative. * Tribune | As evictions tick back up in Cook County, new proposal aims to help renters who land in court: If the City Council passes the right to counsel ordinance, Chicago would join cities including Baltimore and New York, which have in recent years approved such legislation. Introduced Sept. 14, the proposal has been referred to the housing and real estate committee, where it is expected to be discussed in the coming months. * Sun-Times | Mayor Johnson cancels trip to Mexico border for look at migrant crisis, will send aides instead: Beatriz Ponce de Leon, deputy mayor of immigrant, migrant and refugee rights, will lead a small delegation to four Texas cities that are the primary points of departure for migrants traveling to Chicago by bus and air: El Paso, San Antonio, McAllen and Brownsville. * Block Club | University Of Chicago Radio Station Works To Bounce Back After Funding Cut: Two-thirds of WHPK’s funding was slashed in the spring. Station leaders secured more money directly from the dean, but are having to pivot to stay afloat, continue community events and fundraise. * WCIA | Don’t veer for deer, IDOT and IDNR remind motorists: “While your natural instinct is to steer quickly out of the way when you see a deer, remember to not veer suddenly because you could lose control of your vehicle and swerve into another lane or off the road,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said. “Always prepare for the unexpected. A deer might stop in the middle of the road or double back. They also frequently travel in groups so when you see one there likely are others nearby.” * AP | Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford calls on autoworkers to end strike, says company’s future is at stake: In a rare speech coming during contract talks in the company’s hometown of Dearborn, Michigan, Ford said high labor costs could limit spending on developing new vehicles and investing in factories. * AP | GOP’s Jim Jordan is shoring up support and peeling off detractors ahead of a House speaker vote: Tuesday’s scheduled floor vote could turn into a showdown as remaining holdouts refuse to back Jordan. After a private late-night meeting at the Capitol turned into a venting session of angry Republicans, he acknowledged: “We’ve got a few more people to talk to, listen to.”
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