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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* C-Strategies…
* WBEZ | The hope, the worry and the surreal that Illinois Black female Democratic delegates see in Kamala Harris’ moment: Ald. Emma Mitts, 37th Ward and currently the most-tenured woman on Chicago’s City Council, said it’s a milestone she’s excited to witness. “Wow, wow. My inside quivers, chills to just the thought of it. Chills go over your body,” Mitts said. “It has always been difficult for a woman, and particularly a Black woman. To have one in the White House — know that there’s still hope for women in the world. We can still be that leader. We can be the top leader, as it should be. We’ve been leaders all our life.” * Tribune | Ascension selling 9 Illinois hospitals to California-based Prime Healthcare : Ascension plans to sell the hospitals, along with four of its post-acute and senior living facilities, to Prime Healthcare. Neither Prime nor Ascension disclosed the sale price Thursday. The hospitals slated to be sold to Prime include: Ascension Holy Family in Des Plaines, Ascension Mercy in Aurora, Ascension Resurrection in Chicago, Ascension St. Francis in Evanston, Ascension St. Joseph in Joliet, Ascension St. Joseph in Elgin, Ascension St. Mary in Kankakee, Ascension St. Mary in Chicago and Ascension St. Elizabeth in Chicago. Other facilities involved in the sale include Fox Knoll Village in Aurora, Villa Franciscan Place in Joliet, Heritage Village and Heritage Lodge in Kankakee, and Resurrection Place in Park Ridge, all now operated by Ascension Living. * WTTW | How Will the Democratic National Convention Impact Downtown Chicago? Here Are the Security Zones: The security perimeter was drawn to allow the convention to take place from Aug. 19-22 without disruption and without impacting the daily lives of Chicagoans more than necessary while allowing protestors to exercise their First Amendment right to demonstrate, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. * Sun-Times | With Chicago casino on the horizon, Bally’s accepts $4.6 billion buyout, merger: Bally’s announced Thursday it accepted the $18.25-per-share buyout from Standard General, the New York hedge fund led by Bally’s chairman Soo Kim. That’s a premium over the $15-per-share offered up in March by Kim, whose fund currently owns about a quarter of Bally’s stock. * Crain’s | Gas prices around Chicago surge after tornado shuts refinery: Exxon’s Joliet power outage “has driven up prices across the board in the Great Lakes region,” Patrick DeHaan of GasBuddy said in an email. “Jet, diesel and gasoline are all higher.” Retail gasoline prices this week are up 26 cents in Michigan, 22 cents in Illinois, 14 cents in Wisconsin, 13 cents in Indiana and 10 cents in Ohio, he said. * Chalkbeat | Union members assail Chicago Public Schools budget plan ahead of board vote: At Tuesday’s hearing, more than a dozen union members addressed the board to demand that the district back union proposals for smaller class sizes, a librarian in every school, more special education support staff, updated curriculums, substitute-teacher pay increases, and other investments. * Sun-Times | CPS developing ‘transportation hub’ bus system for general education students: District officials are looking into creating a so-called transportation hub program, where general education students could go to a school near their home to catch a bus to their assigned school and be dropped back off there, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said at Thursday’s monthly Board of Education meeting. But the details are still being sorted out. “This option will not be available for our general ed students on the first day of school,” Martinez said. “We hope to open our first hub stops during the first quarter and continue to expand them throughout the school year.” * Chalkbeat | Summer child care can be a puzzle. For parents of children with disabilities, it’s even more complex: Chicago Public Schools currently serves over 52,000 students with Individualized Education Programs, but only 9,019 students are eligible as of July 12 for the district’s summer program for these students, also known as Extended School Year. For students who aren’t eligible for the Extended School Year program, families look to Chicago Park District’s summer day camps for kids between 6-12 years old and special recreational programs for children and teens between 8 and 17 years old. These programs run for about six weeks and can cost $160 or more, but financial aid is available for families. Many of these programs have limited spots and parents say they fill up quickly in the spring. * Sun-Times | CPS students issue the grades in cafeteria taste test: The tastings, held as often as four times a month, help CPS figure out which items to include on the next season’s menu, said Ariana Luster, school nutrition specialist at Chicago Public Schools. Luster also uses the feedback to improve dishes or determine which should be cut from the menu. “Notoriously, school food isn’t seen in the most positive light. So we try to do whatever we can to be responsive to the feedback, give them the things they like but also meet the standards that we must meet,” Luster said. * Block Club | A Chicago Restaurant Was On The Brink Of Closure. Then, Keith Lee Showed Up: “Hey y’all, he got something,” Lee said after taking his first bite of the birria arancini. “It’s spicy, it’s flavorful. This is delicious — and I love the ingenuity of it.” After tasting the arancini, Lee went into the restaurant, met Sciacca, paid $3,000 for the tabs of future customers — and left a $1,000 tip. * Tribune | Chicago Sky announce plans for a $38 million training facility in Bedford Park: ‘It’s not shared. This is ours.’: The $38 million facility will be built in partnership with the Village of Bedford Park and located next to the Wintrust Sports Complex just south of Midway Airport. The Sky expect construction to be completed by December 2025 and the 40,000-square-foot facility to be fully available for the 2026 WNBA season. […] The new facility will have two regulation-sized courts, an improvement from the single court at the team’s current training facilities at Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield. The new building also will include amenities such as individual lockers, strength and conditioning equipment, player lounges, recovery and film rooms and a private kitchen. * Tribune | Portillo’s argues that NLRB is unconstitutional in labor board filings: Portillo’s filings come after labor board officials issued a complaint against the fast-expanding hot dog giant earlier this month, alleging it violated labor law before and after a union election at its Addison food preparation facility last year. Workers at that facility voted 28-20 to unionize in an April 2023 election that remains contested as the company has repeatedly challenged the results. Oak Brook-based Portillo’s is one of a number of companies that have recently raised challenges to the labor board’s constitutionality either in lawsuits, labor board filings or hearings. Other companies that have raised constitutional issues over the board’s structure include Amazon, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks and SpaceX, which has filed two lawsuits against the NLRB in federal courts in Texas. * Daily Herald | Charges pending against Schaumburg shooting suspect as victim remains in serious condition: Charges were pending Thursday against a Schaumburg resident who surrendered to police late Wednesday after an hourslong armed standoff that followed the shooting of a tree trimmer. The victim was listed in serious but stable condition Thursday at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Schaumburg police Cmdr. Christy Lindhurst said. * WCIA | ‘We don’t have any info and nobody will tell us’: Dispatch records detail confusion after Sonya Massey shooting: New records of scanner traffic the morning of Massey’s death show that it was more than just her family that was confused in the aftermath of the shooting. […] In another recording released by Sangamon County Dispatch, a dispatcher calls the Illinois State Police Dispatch line. “We don’t actually know what happened; he just screamed shots fired. Somebody heard — one of the dispatchers heard the gunshots and said female shot in the head, but we don’t know if she shot herself or if a deputy shot her,” the county dispatcher said. * WSIL | Southern Illinois Family Devastated by Flooding, Memories Washed Away: One week ago, severe flooding turned Nashville, Illinois, into a temporary island. Since then, nearly 70 homeowners have reported flood damage. One of those residents, Jami Lane, says it’s a week later and her family is still trying to process what happened. “It was rushing through the house, and it was really traumatic for them, my 6-year-old, for several days after,” Lane said. * WJBD | Discover Downstate Illinois begins bracket contest to find Best BBQ Joint: There are a number of local BBQ places in the competition including Smoked to the Bone in Iuka, Big Daddy’s in Centralia, Yellow Rose in Wayne City, Curly Tail in Flora and White House in Du Bois. The Facebook contest is set up the same way as past competitions to select the best burger, ice cream, and coffee shop in the region. * NYT | Newsom Orders California Officials to Remove Homeless Encampments: Mr. Newsom, a Democrat, called on state and local leaders to “humanely remove encampments from public spaces” in an urgent manner, prioritizing those that most threaten health and safety. His executive order could divide Democratic local leaders in California, some of whom have already begun to clear encampments while others have denounced the decision from conservative justices as opening the door to inhumane measures to solve a complex crisis. * AP | An Olympic-sized fight erupts among anti-doping officials, and it’s just getting started: The stream of threats, recriminations and anti-doping innuendo flowed freely again Thursday when tensions over a U.S. law designed to combat drugs in sports escalated on the eve of the Paris Olympics. […] After details emerged about 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance - Chinese authorities blamed it on contamination from a hotel kitchen - but none were suspended and some went on to win medals at the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. launched an investigation. The latest round of backlash played out in a trio of news conferences in Paris, the highlight of which came when leaders at WADA suggested they might sanction one of their biggest critics, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, over the law.
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Corrections officer put on administrative leave for mocking murder victim (Updated)
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Earlier today… 
People who live around Logan Correctional Center are trying keep it from being shut down by the state. * Response from the Illinois Department of Corrections…
* Angeli has had problems before, so the department’s “education” program apparently didn’t work for him. From 2019…
Maybe he figured his union would save him again. ..Adding… The US 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled just this week that IDOC employees can be fired for this behavior…
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Showcasing the Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Darvin Furniture, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Republican chair claims Pritzker ‘desperate’ to leave Illinois (Updated)
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * ILGOP…
Thoughts? …Adding… DPI… 
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Former South Works steel site will be transformed into a massive quantum campus (Updated)
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times…
* Crain’s…
…Adding… Press release…
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Open thread
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Kamala Harris campaign considering J.B. Pritzker for vice presidential candidate. Sun-Times…
- CNN’s Jake Tapper asked the governor if he is being considered as Harris’ running mate, he responded that he was unable to comment on “private conversations.” - Asked by Tapper if he would accept the No. 2 slot on the ticket if it was offered, Pritzker said, “Well, I think you know, I love being governor of Illinois. * Related stories…
∙ CNN: Gov. JB Pritzker was asked if Harris has contacted him to be VP nominee. Hear his response ∙ CBS: Kamala Harris vetting about a dozen possible VP candidates Governor Pritzker will be at the Secret Service Chicago Field Office at 11:30 am for the DNC security briefing. At 1 pm the governor will announce a new business investment. Click here to watch.
* Tribune | Chicago announces ‘transformational’ quantum computer commercial development at fallow South Works site: Mayor Brandon Johnson, who met with top PsiQuantum executives several months ago to pitch the site and the city, said it is significant that a revolutionary new industry is set to spring up on grounds that built the material to create Chicago’s skyline during the last century. “We were the first to shift the economy when steel was being used to grow industry,” Johnson told the Tribune. “Now here we are. I think it’s very fitting that Chicago is upfront and on the cutting edge of what it means to transform our global economy.” * WTTW | Men in Stateville Prison Fear Ongoing Poor Conditions, Threat of Heat a Month After Man Dies in Custody: The nailed-shut windows and broken industrial fans mean there’s little ventilation inside Stateville Correctional Center. Old floor fans face toward the building’s higher levels in a failed attempt to circulate air on the top galleries as heat stays trapped inside. […] Men inside the facility were hoping for change after Michael Broadway, 51, died in custody on June 19, but “that’s the problem, nothing has [changed],” wrote Muhammad. * ABC Chicago | Protestors hold rally after inmate Michael Broadway dies at Stateville Correction Center: Broadway had served 18 years on a murder conviction, but he had filed a claim of innocence. He got an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University while incarcerated. His family told ABC7 he was asthmatic and was housed on the ninth floor of Stateville with a broken fan and a sealed window. On June 19, a 90 degree day, they said he collapsed and was later pronounced dead. The Will County coroner’s office said Broadway’s autopsy report is still pending. * Chronicle | Greenwood maintains fundraising lead in 114th House race: Greenwood started the second quarter with $106,514 and finished with just $111,344, largely on the strength of a $15,000 contribution from SEIU HealthCare IL IN PAC. She received no individual donations in the quarter. On July 12, she got a cash infusion from fellow Democratic state Rep. Jay Hoffman of the 113th District. Hoffman, who is running unopposed, transferred $48,500 from his campaign to Greenwood’s. Added to two other July transfers totaling $3,500, Greenwood has $160,000 on hand. * WGEM | Proposed Illinois bill would make it easier for people to apply for rental properties: If you are in the process off applying to rent an apartment, you know it can be a daunting process that includes collecting information and application fees. However, a bill sent to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s’ desk aims to make applying for apartments easier for tenants and landlords. The proposed bill would allow a tenant to use a reusable tenant screening report when applying to rent a property, which would include important background information such as tenant income, credit score, and rental and eviction history. * WBBM | Over 500 Illinois workers say promised raises have not arrived: Teamsters Local 916 said the Illinois Department of Central Management Services [CMS] is not paying workers at the Illinois Department of Transportation the negotiated wage increases in the collective bargaining agreement. The union said that, as of July 1, more than 500 IDOT Teamsters have not received the wages they are legally owed. * People’s Fabric | Tactical team who killed Dexter Reed under investigation for over two dozen unjustified stops and searches: In one complaint, a man described “a pattern of harassment and intimidation” by 11th District tactical officers outside of his residence, including multiple stops and searches. In the other complaint, COPA lists 28 locations where “the accused officers allegedly engaged in a series of unjustified traffic stops and searches in the 11th District.” * WBEZ | Democrats expect Republican leaders to send more buses of migrants to Chicago before the DNC: “The city is maintaining sufficient bed capacity in our existing temporary shelters and preparing sites in the event that new temporary emergency shelters need to be activated on short notice,” said a city spokesperson. Since August 2022, more than 45,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, have been flown and bused to Chicago, mostly from Texas, leading to a humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold. * Tribune | Pioneer Arcade receives city, state support to be developed into affordable housing: Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority announced the 2024 low-income housing tax credit awardees Tuesday, and the Hispanic Housing Development Corp.’s plan to construct 61 affordable housing units for older adults at the former bowling and billiards hall was one of 16 projects statewide to receive funds. Without the city support needed to receive the low-income housing tax credits, the Hispanic Housing Development Corp. would have left a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on the table, as well as the potential for an additional $24 million in federal rental subsidies to help the developer maintain affordability for the proposed building over a period of 40 years. * Crain’s | Could the Field Museum get that Stegosaurus Ken Griffin just bought?: Supporting a dinosaur exhibit in Chicago also wouldn’t be a first for Griffin. In 2017, he donated $16.5 million to the Field Museum to support upkeep on Sue and to exhibit a touchable cast of the biggest dinosaur ever discovered, a long-necked titanosaur called “Maximo.”“The Field Museum’s never-ending goal is to offer the best possible dinosaur experiences. Ken Griffin’s longtime support is a major step forward in achieving that goal,” then-Field Museum President Richard Lariviere said at the time of the donation. * Daily Herald | Funding for Wheeling Twp. mental health board hits another snag: Funding for Wheeling Township’s community mental health board, stalled for more than 18 months, now faces a new obstacle. Township Supervisor Kathy Penner said Tuesday that an attorney has spotted a flaw in state legislation intended to clear the way for the township to levy a voter-approved property tax to fund the 708 board. * Daily Herald | Longmeadow Parkway nearing completion in Kane County, with no tolls attached: “It’s going to be a game changer for people,” Carpentersville Village President John Skillman said. Longmeadow Parkway is expected to ease congestion on other nearby bridges. Currently, drivers in the area cross the Fox River via bridges on Route 62 in Algonquin, Route 72 in East and West Dundee or Main Street in Carpentersville. * Tribune | ComEd issuing months of renewable energy credits after computer snafu, but thousands of customers still facing sticker shock from solar providers: Nearly a half year after a bungled ComEd computer billing system upgrade all but shut down the Illinois community solar program, thousands of impacted customers began receiving long-delayed renewable energy credits on their July bills. In some cases, the credits totaled $600 or more worth of solar energy generated since February. * SJ-R | Records: Sheriff’s office knew about Sean Grayson’s DUIs. Were there any other red flags?: Jeff Wilhite, a spokesman for Sangamon County, said the sheriff’s office knew about both DUIs. […] Campbell, in a statement emailed Wednesday afternoon, said the sheriff’s office “understood that the serious misconduct referenced (in Grayson’s Army personnel file) was a DUI.” * WIFR | Northern Illinois counties implement Safe Streets for All Action Plan: Leaders in Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson and Whiteside counties are putting their communities first by implementing the Safe Streets for All Action Plan. In collaboration with Blackhawk Hills, the plan is designed to guide future infrastructure plans and avoid vehicle-related fatalities and severe injuries. From 2019 to 2021, road deaths across the nation increased by 17.4%, with a 32.1% increase in Illinois alone. Within the six participating counties, a 7.1% increase of deaths has affected these areas. Blackhawk Hills submitted a grant to address these concerns, ultimately receiving the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) gran to support the Safety Action Plan. * WIFR | Eye on Politics: One-on-one with Adam Kinzinger: Adam Kinzinger has been called a country-first man of conviction. Some call him Illinois’s biggest RINO, or Republican In Name Only. WIFR anchor Mike Garrigan sat down with the former Republican congressman turned CNN commentator to cover a variety of topics.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Thursday, Jul 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Invisible Institute and the Investigative Reporting Workshop…
* WGN…
* WTTW reporter Amanda Vinicky…
* Crain’s…
* SJ-R | Here are 2 ways Illinois is trying to combat maternal mortality rates: Debra Tisckos, the director of maternal child health services at the Sangamon County Department of Public Health said that the rates of maternal mortality were high due to lack of prenatal and postnatal care, plus lack of education and access to proper care. “Things like hypertension, diabetes and just lack of prenatal and postnatal care are contributing factors,” Tisckos said in April during an interview with The State Journal-Register. “There needs to be more education out there on getting these things done, and more support and help for women that don’t know.” * WCSJ | Illinois treasurer’s office launches Spanish I-CASH website: Treasurer Michael Frerichs says that there are many Spanish speakers in Illinois who could benefit from the new site. Frerichs says unclaimed property can come in many forms, such as forgotten items in a deposit box or a forgotten bank account. He says in many cases, it’s simple to reunite the property with its rightful owner. * WSIL | Alcohol is Leading Factor for Deadly Boating Accidents in 2023, Illinois Officials Say: The Illinois State Fire Marshal stated alcohol continued to be the leading known contributing factor in deadly boating accidents for last year, totaling 79 deaths across the nation or about 17 percent of total deaths. * Tribune | A new north DuSable Lake Shore Drive? Long running idea takes step forward with a concept that leaves out bus lanes, includes more park space: That vision includes changes to the sharp curves and bottleneck-inducing traffic lights as the Drive enters downtown, and priority for CTA buses on exit and entrance ramps. It calls for adding lakefill in some places downtown and separating pedestrians from cyclists along the Lakefront Trail. It includes eliminating one lane of traffic north of Irving Park road. Missing from the concept are lanes on Lake Shore Drive that would prioritize the many CTA express buses that use the route. Transit priority lanes had been a key element of each of the other options that had been finalists for consideration. * Tribune | Authorities investigating break-in at Cook County state’s attorney’s office: Authorities are investigating a break-in at the administrative offices of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, officials said. Staff with the state’s attorney’s office contacted the Cook County sheriff’s office on Tuesday to report that several computers were missing at their offices at the main courthouse in the George Leighton Criminal Court Building, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. Police opened an investigation, which is ongoing. * ABC Chicago | South Side churches’ reading camp for Black boys getting national attention: Salem and Progressive Baptist churches started a pilot program to help improve the reading skills of young Black boys. It’s called Black Boy Literacy. The program was so successful last summer that the churches brought the reading camp back this year to prepare Black boys for the upcoming school year. What started as a pilot program– has become a model for other Black churches across the country. * Block Club | More Than $400,000 Raised So Far In Chicago’s 2024 School Board Elections: The money is a mix of small donations from candidates’ friends and family, sizable personal loans and in-kind and financial support from existing political and labor groups, according to a Chalkbeat analysis of state campaign finance records. The political fundraising arms of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, which has $3 million on hand, and the Chicago Teachers Union, which has around $175,000, are holding their fire for now, putting off making major donations to candidates. That’s not surprising: Many candidates are still sorting out challenges to their petitions to get on the ballot, and spending is likely to pick up once a clearer picture of the most competitive races and candidates emerges. * The Triibe | Black businesses are looking to benefit from the DNC in Chicago: Stephanie Hart, owner of Brown Sugar Bakery in Greater Grand Crossing, said she is already reaping benefits from the upcoming Democratic National Convention (DNC), which is scheduled to come to Chicago on Aug. 19-22. In May, she catered a welcome party for delegates and people working the DNC. She said she reached out to convention organizers with hopes to become a vendor during the event. * Tribune | As new Foxtrot owner plans to reopen stores, a former undocumented worker recounts his struggle to find a job and collect back pay: As a co-founder of Foxtrot and new investors plan to reopen about a dozen stores this fall, Mancera and most of the other 50 former immigrant workers who worked at the commissary continue to struggle to find new jobs to make ends meet. Mancera said that his quest for employment has been stymied by few opportunities, with competition from newly arrived migrants who are willing to work for extremely low wages and those who have legal work permits. Unlike former workers at the storefronts who qualified for unemployment, most of those who worked at the commissary are ineligible for unemployment benefits due to their immigration status. * Daily Herald | ‘A game changer’: New pumping station promises to ease Des Plaines River flooding: A new $4.1 million pump station along the Des Plaines River in Mount Prospect will help neighborhoods that have been battered by flooding for decades, officials said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. “This project is simply a game changer,” Mount Prospect Mayor Paul Hoefert said of the station on River Road north of Camp McDonald Road. “It will help provide an unprecedented level of flood protection for hundreds, if not thousands, of homes in Mount Prospect on the west side of River Road.” * Tribune | County to consider $7.25 million settlement for wrongfully convicted ‘Marquette Park Four’ member: On the heels of the Chicago City Council approving a record $50 million settlement to a group of men once known as the “Marquette Park Four,” the Cook County Board will consider a $7.25 million settlement for one of those men who accused county prosecutors of wrongful incarceration and detention. The Charles Johnson deal is one of several costly settlements the county’s Finance Committee approved unanimously Wednesday, the others related to county-run Stroger Hospital. All of them, totaling $24 million, will be considered by the full board Thursday. * Lake County News-Sun | Illinois catcher Camden Janik, a Wauconda grad drafted by Pirates, is ‘embracing the unknown’ as he turns pro: “You could tell that he was definitely on track to do something special, partly because he always just wanted to get better,” said Clay Kovac, Janik’s coach at Wauconda. “Playing pro ball was definitely in the back of your mind, but it’s not easy to play against great players day in and day out. I can’t say enough about him.” * WAND | Eastern Illinois Food Banks’s “Food Mobile” is hitting the road: The Eastern Illinois Food Bank serves over 18 counties, distributing food to over 100 people every day. […] “Our priority is definitely to provide as much inclusive, nutritious food to people as possible. We really want to be growing those stronger communities. Getting out into these communities and making it as simple as possible for people to receive food assistance. There’s no donation to small no, no way to get involved that doesn’t make too much of an impact.” * WCIA | Danville company fined $200k by OSHA for two labor accidents: Inspectors from the DOL’s Occupation Safety and Health Administration responded to two incidents earlier this year at Viscofan USA Inc.’s Danville facility. One employee suffered broken bones and lacerations on Jan. 25 when their arm was caught in a roller machine. On Feb. 1, another employee suffered chemical burns while cleaning a pump. In both incidents, OSHA determined that the company “lacked adequate procedures for energy control and failed to have them in place before the workers began their tasks.” The agency also said Viscofan failed to train its workers on machine safety procedures and on use of hazardous chemicals * AP | Experts say a twice-yearly injection that offers 100% protection against HIV is ‘stunning’: The shots made by U.S. drugmaker Gilead and sold as Sunlenca are approved in the U.S., Canada, Europe and elsewhere, but only as a treatment for HIV. The company said it is waiting for results of testing in men before seeking permission to use it to protect against infection. […] The prospect of a twice-a-year shot is “quite revolutionary news” for our patients, said Thandeka Nkosi, who helped run the Gilead research at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation in Masiphumelele, South Africa. “It gives participants a choice and it just eliminates the whole stigma around taking pills” to prevent HIV. * The Athletic | Simone Biles is back at the Olympics, and no one is telling her what to do anymore: The Paris Games are being billed as a rebirth for gymnastics, the culmination of that long and painful process. The change, however, started even before this Olympic cycle. It began in Tokyo when Simone Biles said she couldn’t go on and no one told her she’d better go anyway. […] “My ‘why’ is nobody is forcing me to do it,” she said. “I wake up every morning and choose to grind in the gym and come out to perform for myself.” * ProPublica | He Was Convicted of Killing His Baby. The DA’s Office Says He’s Innocent, but That Might Not Be Enough.: Eaton read the journal knowing that in the years since the infant was taken to the emergency room, shaken baby syndrome has come under increasing scrutiny. A growing body of research has demonstrated that the triad of symptoms doctors traditionally used to diagnose the syndrome — brain swelling and bleeding around the brain and behind the eyes — are not necessarily produced by shaking; a range of natural and accidental causes can generate the same symptoms. Nevertheless, shaken baby syndrome and its presumption of abuse have served, and continue to serve, as the rationale for separating children from their parents and for sending mothers, fathers and caretakers to prison. It’s impossible to quantify the total number of Americans convicted on the basis of the diagnosis — only the slim fraction of cases that meet the legal bar to appeal and lead to a published appellate decision. Still, an analysis of these rulings from 2008 to 2018 found 1,431 such criminal convictions.
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Hey, why no periods in Vance’s name? (Update)
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Remember this funny little kerfuffle from 2019?…
Long story short, Pritzker told Brian Mackey that he doesn’t use periods in his name. Back to the story…
* The Associated Press (which doesn’t put periods in AP) continues to this day to refer to the governor as “J.B. Pritzker.” So does the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times and NPR, which, like the AP, does not put periods in the abbreviation of its own name. * Why am I bringing this up? Well, here’s an AP (A.P.?) story about another politician who doesn’t use periods in his name…
Sen. Vance’s full name is James David Vance. But no periods for the A.P. Odd. * The Tribune and the Sun-Times are also using Vance’s preferred spelling, while continuing to spell Pritzker’s name with periods. Same for N.P.R. USA Today, which also doesn’t put periods in its own abbreviation, spells their names “J.B. Pritzker” and “JD Vance.” The Washington Post is being consistent, however. The paper spells both Pritzker’s and Vance’s names with periods. * And, yes, of course this is a trivial matter. But these news outlets are all about words. The AP Stylebook is 524 pages long, for crying out loud. On the off chance that Pritzker is chosen as a vice presidential candidate and faces Vance, we’ll probably see a revisiting of this oddly contradictory policy. Until then, inconsistency will likely prevail. …Adding… The A.P. is the culprit here…
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Former AT&T president says no quid pro quo, no unlawful intent means Madigan-related charges should be dismissed
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Tribune…
All the motions are here. * From one of the filings…
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Groups ramp up ahead of Iowa’s 6-week abortion ban
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Some background is here if you need it. Press release from the Chicago Abortion Fund and the Iowa Abortion Access Fund…
* WGEM last month…
* KWWL yesterday…
* Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton…
* House Speaker Chris Welch…
* Illinois’ state party chair and state Rep. Lisa Hernandez…
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Biz types launch new PAC, 501c4 ‘One Future Illinois’ (Updated)
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Fran Spielman…
Their PAC’s statement of organization describes its mission as “To advance common sense solutions to meet the most significant challenges and opportunities of the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago.” No contributions have yet been reported. Mike Ruemmler, who was one of Rahm Emanuel’s top go-to people, will run both the c4 and the PAC, Fran reports. Go read the rest. …Adding… Crain’s…
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Open thread
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Sun-Times | Domestic violence deaths spiked in Illinois last year, adding to calls for passage of Karina’s Bill: Domestic violence deaths rose by 110% across the state last year, according to a coalition of advocacy groups who said the sharp spike is a somber reminder why lawmakers must crack down on abusers who own guns. “This increase really shows that we have to step up our efforts here in Illinois to reduce these preventable homicides,” said Vickie Smith, former executive director and consultant for the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “Because if they’re increasing that much just over one year, then what are we looking at over the next few years?” * AP | Survivors sue Illinois over decades of sexual abuse at Chicago youth detention center: Temarkus Washington says the sexual abuse he experienced as a teenager at a troubled Chicago youth detention center still gives him nightmares. […] “It’s actually not something that I like to talk about or even think about. I did what I had to do to survive in there,” said Washington, speaking at a Chicago news conference with other survivors. “I am here because I want to feel confident in myself again. For so long I doubted myself and felt so scared.” * Nik Hunder | Despite scrutiny, the CTA’s president rode the system only 58 times in 2023: Since data showing his 2022 riding habits was made public, Carter had eight months left in 2023 to improve how frequently he rode the system in 2022 (23 times). He did not meaningfully or consistently increase that figure in 2023. Fifty-eight times in 2023 is barely more than once per week. Looking more closely, 52%, or 30, of those trips came in June and July, with 34% (20) being taken in July alone, according to ridership data I received from a Freedom of Information Act request. * WAND | Illinois lawmakers, insurance leaders discuss challenges with pharmacy benefit managers: “The healthcare conglomerates appear to be driving growth by generating increasing levels of revenue from their vertically integrated affiliates,” said Ann Gillespie, acting director of the Illinois Department of Insurance. “Said another way, these corporations are growing by paying their own companies more and more.” Gillespie said she will not tolerate consumers receiving less than the value of the benefits they pay for through insurance plans. * Tribune | Chicago leaders brace for as many as 25,000 new migrants ahead of DNC: ‘We just need to be prepared’: In the event of a surge before and during the convention, which starts Aug. 19, the city would first house new arrivals with its roughly 5,000 available beds, Ponce de León said. If that’s not enough, a mix of city, county, state and federal funding would open several “just-in-time” shelters,” she added. “Everything to be able to open these beds very quickly is beginning to fall into place,” Ponce de León said. * Active Transportation Alliance | Coalition calls for halting NDLSD redesign project: We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to not only reimagine our lakefront, but also to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our city and region. Despite this window of opportunity, the current proposal, called ‘The Essential,’ will largely rebuild the highway as it currently exists. * Sun-Times | Phillips fires state championship coach Paris Martin two weeks after he filed a lawsuit against CPS: Martin, Phillips’ boys basketball coach for the last two seasons, claims that Chicago Public Schools never has paid him and that he never officially has been cleared to coach by CPS. The school district requires that all coaches pass a background test. Martin filed a lawsuit July 8 against CPS, Phillips, Talley, Phillips athletic director James Daniels IV, Phillips operations manager Shelonda Mackey and Phillips girls basketball coach Larry Stokes in the Northern District of Illinois’ Eastern Division. Early Tuesday, Martin started a Go Fund Me page to raise money for state championship rings for Phillips’ boys basketball players. As of Tuesday afternoon, $200 of the $14,300 goal had been donated. * WBEZ | CPS is counting on hundreds of positions going unfilled to balance its budget: Faced with a budget deficit of more than $500 million, the school district is counting on vacancies to provide $220 million in savings in the spending plan being voted on Thursday. The district says it calculated these savings by looking at natural attrition, turnover, and the time it takes to hire and staff positions. * Chalkbeat | State ends scrutiny of Chicago Public Schools over long bus rides for students with disabilities: The state notified the district in April that it was ending a corrective action that required the district to “make every effort” to keep commute times for students with disabilities to less than an hour. The state imposed the monitoring in fall 2022, after district leaders acknowledged that roughly 3,000 students with disabilities had longer bus trips than that, with 365 of those students on trips longer than 90 minutes. In its effort to comply with the state plan and deal with a bus driver shortage, the district cut busing for general education students at the start of last school year, and reserved seats for students with disabilities, as well students who are homeless — groups that are entitled to transportation under federal law. It offered free Ventra transit cards to general education students who would have previously been eligible for bus service, largely those attending selective enrollment and magnet programs. * Sun-Times | Center on Halsted launches website for its HIV hotline, renews push to get people to call in: The Center on Halsted is making a renewed push to get people connected to its HIV hotline by debuting a website alongside it. “We’re continuing to amplify that this resource is available,” said Joli Robinson, CEO of Center on Halsted, which has administered the hotline for more than three decades. * Tribune | ‘Titanique the Musical’ parody show is headed to Chicago: “Titanique the Musical,” a critically acclaimed and highly successful off-Broadway parody of the famous 1997 movie “Titanic,” 1990s pop culture and the song stylings of Céline Dion, is sailing to the Broadway Playhouse (175 E. Chestnut St.) for an eight-week run next spring, from March 25 to May 18, 2025. The campy, comedic attraction will appear on the subscription seasons of both Broadway in Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago. This will be, in essence, a Porchlight production developed for Chicago. * Chicago Records | Bridgeport Records builds on its blowout opening weekend: Chicago’s newest independent vinyl shop, Bridgeport Records, opened its doors on July 12 at 3336 S. Halsted. The store is the brainchild of veteran deep-house DJ and producer Vick Lavender and former union leader Jerry Morrison, who’ve both spent decades in the house-music scene but connected for the first time only a few years ago. Lavender founded Sophisticado Recordings in the mid-2000s, and Morrison spent 22 years with the Service Employees International Union, where he played a major role building labor power in Illinois. * Daily Herald | How will suburbs respond to SCOTUS decision allowing cities to fine, arrest homeless people?: Arlington Heights officials are reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision, Village Manager Randall Recklaus said via email. In the past, police were called about people living in the parking garage located below the Arlington Town Square shopping center. In response, the village introduced an ordinance prohibiting “the use of village parking facilities for activities other than parking a vehicle or walking to and from that vehicle,” Recklaus wrote, adding that officers issue citations “when appropriate.” * WCIA | Newly released dispatch records detail confusion following shooting of Sonya Massey: James Wilburn spent days not knowing how his daughter Sonya Massey died. […] “I was under the impression that a prowler had broke in and killed my baby,” Wilburn said Monday. “Never did they say it was a deputy-involved shooting until my brother read it on the internet.” * WCIA | Sonya Massey’s family wasn’t immediately told her death was deputy-involved: Massey’s family is also calling for Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign for hiring Grayson in the first place. State records obtained by WCIA show that Grayson worked at six different law enforcement agencies within a four-year period and that he has two misdemeanor DUIs in his background. County officials said they were aware of the DUIs due to required background checks but added that according to their knowledge, Grayson had not been terminated from any previous jobs. * SJ-R | Massey family meets with Pritzker; DOJ opens investigation into fatal shooting: The high-profile attorney who has been retained by the Massey family confirmed at a press conference at the Springfield NAACP Building that Massey’s mother and father and Massey’s two children were among those who met in private with Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Tuesday. It was open “but emotional at times,” Crump admitted. […] Wilburn also pushed the governor, Crump said, to consider legislation that prevents law enforcement officers with blemishes on their records to be able to resign without having any findings and then go to the next law enforcement agency. * Capitol News Illinois | DOJ confirms it is ‘assessing the circumstances’ of Sonya Massey shooting: A spokesman for the Department of Justice issued a statement to Capitol News late Tuesday: “The Department of Justice is aware of and assessing the circumstances surrounding the tragic officer-involved death of Ms. Sonya Massey and extends condolences to her family and loved ones.” * WGLT | Bloomington pawn shops raided by Illinois Attorney General’s Office: “Investigators from the Illinois Attorney General’s organized retail crime task force executed a number of search warrants today as part of an ongoing investigation,” said AG Deputy Press Secretary April McLaren. […] The AG’s office declined further comment, including whether there are more business locations affected. McLaren only noted that there were a number of warrants in play.
* WCIA | Local filmmakers bring Central Illinois to movie screens: Central Illinois is working towards its Hollywood moment. One Danville filmmaker is ready to share his movie that features local actors and locations. He said they created this film independently and the mission was to keep it within the community. * EFfingham Daily News | 17th annual Effingham Artisan Fair provides oasis for area artists: In total, 35 artists participated in the fair which is five more than last year. This included both experienced and emerging artists. “I think this is one of the best years for novice artists that we’ve ever had,” said Kim Stanfield, one of the lead organizers of the event. * WaPo | Sunday was the hottest day ever recorded on Earth, scientists say: The results from the Copernicus Climate Change Service show the planet’s average temperature on July 21 was 17.09 degrees Celsius (62.76 degrees Fahrenheit) — breaking a record set only last year. The historic day comes on the heels of 13 straight months of unprecedented temperatures and the hottest year scientists have ever seen. * TND | FCC head seeks new protections against AI-generated robocalls: The head of the Federal Communications Commission wants to require callers to disclose their use of artificial intelligence. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said it’s the latest effort from her agency to protect Americans from misleading uses of AI. “Bad actors are already using AI technology in robocalls to mislead consumers and misinform the public,” Rosenworcel said in a news release. “That’s why we want to put in place rules that empower consumers to avoid this junk and make informed decisions.”
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Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Wednesday, Jul 24, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence…
Click here to view the full report. [Fixed link.] * Intersect Illinois…
* Sun-Times…
* Tribune | A Supreme Court decision largely seen as anti-environment may help protect the Southeast Side: But in Chicago, the Environmental Law and Policy Center plans to leverage the ruling, commonly referred to as the Loper decision, to protect neighborhoods on the Southeast Side and the Lake Michigan shoreline. “This is not a good decision by the court. It is ideologically driven to hamstring sensible environmental regulations and agencies that protect public health. However, there’s an opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade,” said Executive Director Howard Learner. * Crain’s | This app wants to arm rideshare drivers in Chicago: The BlackWolf app launched in Atlanta in 2023 with the stated goal of making ride-hailing safer. Not only are drivers armed, they are also all former military, police or private security with at least four years of protective experience. Founder Kerry KingBrown said the guns are meant to emit the perception of safety, but drivers’ backgrounds in those protective professions are what should give passengers peace of mind. * Triibe | It Takes a Village: Chicago’s systems of healing post-gun violence: In Chicago, dedicated individuals and groups work tirelessly to support victims and survivors of gun violence, addressing both immediate needs and long-term healing. Some survivors face the battle of regaining their livelihood and independence alone. Others rely on a network of support. According to the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab, there are about 600 homicides and 2,800 shootings each year in Chicago, underscoring the critical need for comprehensive support systems. Cook County, where Chicago is located, has a gun death rate of 18.2 per 100,000 people. In comparison, counties like St. Clair and Vermilion in Illinois have higher gun death rates, with 24.3 and 22.3 per 100,000 people, respectively. * Block Club | Pigeon-Racing Season Is Here. Here Is How You Can Help Exhausted, Confused Birds: Natalie Quist, a board member of the Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue, said many pigeon races occur in Indiana, and the birds have to pass through the Chicago area to get home. The Chicago Pigeon Society Facebook group has seen an uptick in reports of banded birds in the area. For many bird lovers, pigeon racing is thought to be a cruel form of entertainment that involves bird owners taking advantage of pigeons’ ability to fly home from hundreds of miles away, Quist said. * Crain’s | Ex-NBA owner in talks to buy distressed former Groupon HQ: Arizona-based 3Edgewood, a venture launched last year by former Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, is negotiating a deal to buy the 1.6 million-square-foot office building at 600 W. Chicago Ave., according to people familiar with the talks. The purchase price was not immediately clear, and sources said the discussions could still fall apart amid tenuous times for office demand and financing for commercial property deals. But the historic Montgomery Ward catalog building is likely worth far less than the balance of a $374 million senior mortgage that lender Morgan Stanley provided to finance Chicago developer Sterling Bay’s $510 million purchase of the building in 2018. * Tribune | More than 10,000 Cook County residents to receive property tax refunds: The treasurer plans to send out more than $22 million in refunds by Aug. 9. Over half of the 10,099 property owners will have the funds directly deposited back into their accounts, while the remainder will receive paper checks in the mail. Most of the overpayments were due to property tax exemptions that many homeowners are entitled to, which include exemptions due to disabilities or senior citizen status, Pappas said. * Daily Southtown | Southland homeowners aim property tax frustration at Cook County assessor during Calumet City forum: Residents packed the auditorium at Thornton Fraction North High School demanding answers at the prompting of Calumet City Mayor and Illinois State Rep. Thaddeus Jones, who has blamed Kaegi for jumps in people’s assessed values that translated into massive tax increases for many. “Residents are pissed off because these assessments are going on — we didn’t get notice, we didn’t get communicated,” Jones told reporters before the meeting. “So we want to make sure that the assessor starts communicating.” * Patch | Prosecutors Drop Charges Northwestern Filed Against Own Staff, Student: Prosecutors have dropped all charges against Northwestern University staffers accused of obstructing the school’s security forces during skirmishes surrounding the establishment of an on-campus encampment in April. Assistant professors Alithia Zamantakis and Steven Thrasher, librarian Josh Honn and an unnamed graduate student had been facing class A misdemeanors, a conviction for which is punishable by a maximum of a year in jail and $2,500 in fines. * Shaw Local | McHenry County Sheriff seeks police social worker: The Police Social Worker Division serves 16 police departments throughout McHenry County in a collaborative effort to bridge the gap between law enforcement and social services, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. Police social workers connect citizens with mental health resources. * Daily Herald | ‘She always put residents first’: Vernon Hills mourns loss of former Mayor Barbara Williams: The Vernon Hills community is mourning former mayor and longtime village trustee Barb Williams. Williams originally from Richmond, Virginia, was a driver/dispatcher and later manager at a school bus company who got into local politics in 1981. She spent 28 years on the village board including four as mayor. * The Southern | Logan museum to host Simon, Bryant for ‘Women in Politics’: The General John A. Logan Museum will host the first ever “Brunch with Mary: Women in Politics” event, featuring Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) and former Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon at 10 a.m. Aug. 17 on the museum grounds. Laura Varner, curator of the museum said the board would like to see “Brunch with Mary” recur every year to highlight the overlooked women in history. “We want to make sure that the people around John A Logan are not forgotten either, especially the women, because I don’t think that we get a fair shake in history,” Varner said. * WTTW | Bears Have Been Spotted in Southern Illinois. Officials Say Northerners Should Also Be Prepared for Furry Visitors: “With established (black bear) populations in the adjacent states of Missouri and Wisconsin, occasional summer movements by bears into Illinois are anticipated,” the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said in a statement. During early summer months, yearling bears leave their birth ranges to look for food and to find a permanent home range, officials explained. Adult males travel in search of mates, and nursing females venture further afield for food. * WAND | Illinois State Fair offers extended box office hours, discounts on passes: The Illinois State Fair Grandstand Box office will be open extended hours for in-person ticket purchases on Thursday, July 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, July 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Regular box office hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets are also available online using www.ticketmaster.com, but you can avoid additional ticket fees when you purchase at the box office. * Press Release | WWII Airman from Metropolis finally laid to rest: In February 2024 the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that U.S. Army Air Forces Tech Sgt. William L. Leukering, 28, of Metropolis, Illinois, killed during World War II, was “accounted for” eight decades after his bomber was shot out of the sky. His remains were identified on March 20, 2023. Luekering was buried with full military honors exactly 80 years after his death. * Popular Information | Top Sinclair anchor resigned over concerns about biased and inaccurate content: Eugene Ramirez, the lead anchor of Sinclair’s national evening news broadcast, resigned in January over concerns about the accuracy and right-wing bias of the content he was required to present on air, three sources told Popular Information. The sources — one current and two former Sinclair employees — spoke to Popular Information on the condition of anonymity, citing concerns about the potential professional repercussions of speaking out about Sinclair’s editorial processes. Ramirez’s show, which continues to air with a new host, appears on at least 70 of the hundreds of local television affiliates owned by Sinclair.
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Governor Pritzker meets with the family of Sonya Massey (Updated)
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * CBS Chicago…
* NPR Illinois…
* SJ-R reporter Steven Spearie…
* President Joe Biden…
* Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser…
* Attorney General Kwame Raoul…
* Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher * Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson…
* Rep. Kam Buckner…
* Sen. Doris Turner…
* Senate President Don Harmon…
* Senate Republican Leader John Curran…
* Illinois Legislative Black Caucus…
* Sen. Elgie Sims…
* Sen. Adriane Johnson…
* Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias…
* US Rep. Nikki Budzinski…
* US Senator Tammy Duckworth…
* ACLU of Illinois…
* Bloomington/Normal Branch of the NAACP…
* AFSCME…
To keep up with the latest press releases click here. …Adding… Illinois Sheriffs’ Association…
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It’s just a bill
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
Last Week Tonight host John Oliver did a segment on homeschooling and why legislation gets so much pushback. You can view it by clicking here. * Meanwhile, in Michigan, a legislator is trying to implement similar homeschooling reform. Chalkbeat Detroit’s report from April…
Rep. Kolezsar’s legislation is in response to the abuse of nearly 30 children in foster care by two families. Attorney General Dana Nessel believes the abuse was undetected for so long because the children were homeschooled. (Warning: language) * In West Virginia, where assessments are required, a third of families remain non-compliant. West Virginia Watch…
* Earlier this year, Louisiana legislators defeated a proposal that would roll back oversight to homeschooling programs…
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Showcasing the Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Darvin Furniture, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
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Pritzker hasn’t received VP vetting materials from Harris, but doesn’t shut down speculations that he’s interested
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Wall Street Journal Reporter Ken Thomas…
* The governor’s team refuted this last night. Pritzker did the same on Morning Joe…
The transcript…
Click here to watch the full interview. And if you’re interested, Nomadic Warriors for Pritzker Et al. were interviewed by Jezebel about a potential VP Pritzker.
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Open thread
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on in your part of Illinois?…
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Isabel’s morning briefing
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Springfield community gathers at peace rally in support of Massey family. WAND…
- The rally provided a space for the community to lean on each other for support and to remember Sonya’s legacy. -Protester and 13-year-old Alfred Dixon said that he had played with Sonya’s children and had the pleasure of meeting her. “She was the nicest person I knew. She was just very loving, inviting me to her home.” said Dixon “She loved everyone. In [just] a short amount of time, she loved you already.” * Related stories…
∙ WAND: Video shows sheriff’s deputy shoot and kill an unarmed woman in Springfield, Ill. * Levy Konigsberg LLP media advisory…
* Daily Chronicle | DeKalb man charged in assassination threat to Rep. Jeff Keicher jailed ahead of trial: A DeKalb County judge on Monday decided to keep jailed a DeKalb man accused of threatening to assassinate state Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, citing in part the man’s criminal history of making false 911 calls to police. Forrest R. Brandon, 58, will remain in custody at the DeKalb County Jail in Sycamore without release pending trial. He appeared for a second court hearing Monday in front of Circuit Court Judge Joseph Pedersen. Brandon is expected to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 15 on a charge of threatening a public official, a Class 3 felony. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison. * Crain’s | Lurie to expand mental health training for primary care docs: Lurie Children’s Hospital will receive nearly $1 million from Cook County Health to train and support primary care providers at federally qualified health centers serving under-resourced neighborhoods in Chicago. * CBS | Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolls on its side in crash on Chicago-area expressway: No one was injured in the crash. The right northbound lane of I-294 was shut down for more than an hour while police investigated the crash, but all lanes were open by 12:30 p.m. According to the website for Oscar Mayer, there are six different official Wienermobiles that tour the country. The next scheduled stop in the Chicago area is on July 27 at Tony’s Fresh Market in Round Lake Beach. * Advantage News | Illinois Comptroller addresses the state’s pension challenges: Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza recently made the first pension prepayment as allowed under a new law. The change allows Mendoza to pay more into state pensions earlier in the year. “The pre-payment of monthly state contributions allows the retirement systems to keep assets working to generate investment returns longer, improving the financial condition of the systems and potentially reducing required state contributions in the future.,” said Mendoza. * WCIA | New IL bill requires weather radios installed in recently built mobile homes: Ed Shimon, the warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lincoln, knows this is a crucial step, especially after the damage across Central Illinois last week. “I’ve seen a lot of mobile home parks get hit just by chance. It’s very devastating,” Shimon said. * WAND | Illinois law will expand mental health coverage for patients following miscarriage, stillbirth: Illinois currently requires insurance coverage for mental, emotional, nervous and substance use treatments for pregnant people through delivery, postpartum and neonatal care. “But there is no requirement to provide those services in the case of miscarriage or stillbirth,” said Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora). “House Bill 5282 adds coverage for individuals needing those services as a result of a miscarriage or stillbirth.” * WCIA | Pritzker signs several auto, medical service-related bills: Legislation like House Bills 4255 and 5370 were put forth to improve safety around emergency scenes. HB4255 will soon allow tow trucks and other specified vehicles to use green oscillating flashing lights at the scene of a crash or disablement. HB5370 amends Illinois’ “Scott’s Law” by requiring drivers to slow down around such accidents. These will all go into effect at the top of 2025. * WAND | New Illinois law expands family counseling services for first responders: The plan requires every self-insured county and municipality cover marriage and couples counseling for police and firefighters. This change will apply to local first responders, Illinois State Police, university law enforcement and their families. * Crain’s | United Center owners plan $7 billion Near West Side campus: The next-generation owners of the United Center are proposing a $7 billion transformation of the property around the Near West Side arena, a plan to redraw 55 acres surrounding the venue with a megaproject that includes a new 6,000-seat music hall, hotel and retail buildings, public open space and thousands of apartments. * Sun-Times | United Center owners planning massive $7 billion mixed-use campus around the arena: The United Center is the second busiest arena in America, according to the development team, hosting 3 million guests annually. The arena was built thirty years ago with no government funding — and the same would hold true for The 1901 Project. Spearheaded by the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families, the ownership group said there’s no plan to request city funding or tax increment financing assistance. * WGN | ‘The person knows they hit me’: Chicago newspaper columnist suffers broken hip after Pilsen hit-and-run: Perez, 32, was struck by the unidentified vehicle Tuesday evening, just a block away from his home. Perez said the car hit him while in the middle of the crosswalk on 18th Street moments after he left a nearby store. […] “The doctors did their part, and I just hope the police also find this person because I wouldn’t feel safe with someone who feels it’s OK to just drive off after this,” Perez said. * Sun-Times | AKA sorority sisters filled with pride as Kamala Harris steps in for Joe Biden weeks before DNC: “In this geopolitical environment, and sometimes (with) the views of people of color, and especially a woman leading, I honestly did not think that Kamala Harris would even get a nod,” AKA Central Regional Director Kiahna Davis told the Sun-Times. “To hear that, it made me proud as a woman, and it made me proud as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.” […] AKA was founded on the campus of Howard University in 1908, making it the country’s oldest historically Black sorority. The organization, which is headquartered on the South Side of Chicago, now has more than 300,000 initiated members worldwide. […] AKA will not officially endorse any political candidate, but it along with fellow Black Greek-letter organizations — known as the “Divine Nine” — have launched a massive voter mobilization campaign. * Sun-Times | McCormick Place installs bird-safe film to deter migrating birds from hitting its windows: The lakefront building’s glass windows are currently being covered with a bird-safe film, which is meant to deter birds from flying into the glass. The $1.2 million project began in early June and will take three months to complete, just in time for the beginning of the fall migration, according to a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which manages McCormick Place. * WBEZ | What’s That Building? Muddy Waters house and Mojo Museum: McKinley Morganfield (stage name Muddy Waters) and his wife, Geneva, bought their Kenwood house in 1954 and the home has remained the family ever since. Today, the building is owned by a nonprofit run by one of the singer’s great-granddaughters and is a city landmark. It was turned into the Muddy Waters MOJO Museum by his great-granddaughter, Chandra Cooper. * Daily Herald | Suburban delegates lining up behind Harris: “It appears everyone is coming together,” said DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy, who was a Harris delegate before she ended her campaign in 2020. “It’s refreshing to see everyone standing behind our candidate and moving in the right direction. The most important thing is that we defeat Trump.” * WGN | NWS confirms record 27 tornadoes from July 15th storms: On Monday, the National Wheater Service (NWS) updated the total tornado count from the storms to include three more twisters that touched down in the NWS Chicago forecast area. According to the NWS, the newly confirmed tornadoes hit the ground in Maple Park, Country Club Hills and at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. * Daily Herald | President of Hoffman Estates company dies from injuries suffered in accident that also killed CEO: The president of Hoffman Estates-based international software firm Vistex died Friday from complications of injuries suffered in a Jan. 18 fall in India that also killed the company’s founder and CEO. The death of Raju Datla, 54, of Barrington had secondary causes from carotid stenosis, or narrowing of a carotid artery, as well as a prior stroke, a records review by the Cook County medical examiner’s office determined Saturday. * WSIL | Black Bear Confirmed Spotted in Jackson County, Officials Offer Safety Tips: The Jackson County Animal and Rabies Control (JCARC) announced on Monday morning there has been a confirmed sighting of a black bear. This comes after multiple reports of a black bear sighting starting in Carrier Mills on July 11, to multiple reports of black bear sightings last week in Williamson County. * WCIA | U of I Archives detail story of Illini Olympian 100 years after gold medal wins: — The 2024 Summer Olympics kick off this week in Paris, exactly 100 years after the city last hosted the games. The United States won 45 gold medals in 1924, and two of them were won by a Fighting Illini. Harold Osborn was a member of the Illinois track and field team from 1920 to 1922, setting six world records and helping the Illini to Big Ten team championships all three years of his collegiate career. He individually won 17 national championships and his world record in the standing high jump still stands today. * KFVS | SIU Grad Deanna Price prepares for Olympics: Former SIU Athletic Standout Deanna Price is headed to the Olympics to compete in the hammer throw. Not for the first time but her third. “For me, the Olympics are something I’ve been dreaming about. I didn’t think it was gonna be a reality,” said Price. Deanna first gained national attention when she went to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and placed 8th. She says she would have never made it to those first games or beyond without the support of SIU.
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Selected press releases (Live updates)
Tuesday, Jul 23, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
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