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* WGLT…
The Illinois Department of Corrections has failed to create and implement a plan to improve medical care at state prisons, a federal judge ruled Tuesday in an opinion that cited a history of delays by IDOC to comply with a 2019 federal consent decree.
In a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois’ Eastern Division, Judge Jorge L. Alonso reminded the IDOC of its obligation under a 2019 agreement to work with a court-appointed monitor to develop and put in place major improvements to health care. The lawsuit is based on a 2010 complaint from Don Lippert, a diabetic inmate at Stateville Correctional Center who claimed he was denied his twice-daily doses of insulin, that grew into a class action against the state.
“For reasons that the COVID-19 pandemic does not fully explain and that remain unclear to the Court, defendants never prepared and submitted any implementation plan that came close to fitting” the 2019 agreement until December 2021, said the judge.
Efforts to resolve differences between the state and the monitor’s recommendations broke down last year, resulting in the IDOC bringing a new version of the plan for the state’s 29,000 detainees to the table.
“Not only was this not the process that the parties agreed upon and that the Court had ordered, but plaintiffs and the monitor believe this new version of the plan had regressed rather than improved,” the judge said in his ruling.
* This is a good idea…
Republican members of the Illinois House and Senate will hold a press conference on Thursday to call for joint House and Senate Committee hearings to investigate reports of neglect and abuse at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in downstate Anna.
WHO: State Representative Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona), State Representative Charlie Meier (R-Okawville), State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg), State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), State Senator Jil Tracy (R-Quincy)
* “Iffy at best” is a quite charitable prognosis…
As promised, a new proposal for an Illinois graduated income tax has been introduced in Springfield, and though its prognosis is iffy at best, it is has some significant differences from the “fair tax” plan by Gov. J.B. Pritzker that voters rejected in a 2020 referendum.
Under legislation filed by state Sen. Rob Martwick, a Northwest Side Democrat, tax rates on low-income single filers would be cut to as low as 4%, well under the state’s current 4.95% flat rate and the 4.75% rate the governor proposed. The tax rate wouldn’t even hit the 4.75% mark until a person’s annual income tops $100,000.
* Tribune editorial…
Interestingly, DeSantis appeared before friendly law enforcement audiences in suburbs ringing three major cities. He also showed up Monday in Staten Island in New York City and Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. He was hardly playing to stadium-sized crowds, although the panic his appearances caused was demonstrative of just how much he scares politically ambitious Democrats.
Panic? I’ve noticed lately lots of folks automatically claiming that fear or panic is the motivation when somebody goes negative on someone else. Maybe it’s just politics. That’s part of the way it’s been done in this country for centuries. Did DeSantis drag the governor’s family into his Pritzker slam Monday out of some sort of panic?
* Illinois Review…
As Illinois Review reported last month, State Rep. Dan Caulkins of Decatur had filed a lawsuit challenging Gov. JB Pritzker’s Assault Weapons Ban nearly identical to the three lawsuits filed by former Republican AG candidate Thomas DeVore. […]
But in a surprising turn of events, counsel for Rep. Caulkins filed a two-paragraph opposition to DeVore’s consolidation motion yesterday with the Illinois Supreme Court. Joining with Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Rep. Caulkins is opposing consolidation on the basis that his case – while nearly identical to and filed after DeVore’s initial case – is procedurally different than DeVore’s three cases. […]
An adverse ruling on Rep. Caulkins’ summary judgment motion could threaten DeVore’s three cases and the Temporary Restraining Orders in place for the 4713 Illinoisans and 148 federal firearms dealers, who currently are exempted from the restrictions put into place by the Assault Weapons Ban.
Please continue to follow Illinois Review and DeVore Law Offices for more updates as they become available.
* That’s a lot of dead deer…
Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 158,010 deer during all 2022-2023 archery and firearm seasons that concluded Jan. 15. The total preliminary deer harvest for all seasons compares with a total harvest of 146,438 deer for all seasons in 2021-2022.
During the 2022-2023 deer seasons, hunters took 45.04% females and 54.96% males.
Totals from specific seasons:
• Archery deer hunters took a preliminary total of 69,557 deer during the season that began Oct. 1 and concluded Jan. 15. The total archery harvest during the 2021-2022 season was 66,630 deer.
• Youth deer hunters harvested a preliminary total of 3,339 deer during the three-day Illinois youth deer season Oct. 8-10, compared to 1,847 in 2021.
• Traditional firearm season hunters took a preliminary total of 76,854 deer during the firearm season Nov. 18-20 and Dec. 1-4. This compares to a harvest of 70,456 deer taken during the 2021 firearm season.
• Muzzleloader hunters harvested a preliminary total of 2,856 deer during the muzzleloader-only season Dec. 9-11, compared with a harvest of 3,046 deer during the 2021 muzzleloader season.
• Late-winter seasons: The 2022-2023 late-winter anterless-only and special chronic wasting disease (CWD) deer seasons concluded Jan. 15 with a combined preliminary harvest total for both seasons of 5,404 deer. Season dates for the seven-day late-winter and CWD seasons were Dec. 29-Jan. 1 and Jan. 13-15. During the same seasons in 2021-2022, a total of 4,504 deer were taken.Sixteen northern Illinois counties were open to the special CWD season, which is used to assist in slowing the spread of chronic wasting disease in the Illinois deer herd. And 24 counties were open for the late-winter anterless season in 2022-2023. Counties that are at or below their individual deer population goal for two consecutive years may be removed from the late-winter season.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* Quad-City Times | Pritzker touts Smart Start Illinois in Rock Island visit: Pritzker was joined by local officials and community members at a news conference Wednesday at the Skip-a-Long Child Development Services in Rock Island, discussing how the child care and early education investments could be transformative in addressing children’s developmental needs in the long term.
* Illinois Newsroom | Illinois food deserts grow as rural grocery stores close: Governor JB Pritzker drew attention to the issue during last week’s State of the State address, proposing a $20 million plan to help independent grocers open or expand in underserved areas.
* Daily Herald | License plate readers won’t be used for traffic enforcement, Des Plaines chief says: Rather, the images will help police in Des Plaines and other communities fight more significant crimes in which automobiles were used, Chief David Anderson told the city council during its scheduled meeting at city hall. He cited burglaries, robberies and catalytic converter thefts as examples of crimes the cameras could help solve.
* Crain’s | Amazon says it has completed $3.49 billion deal for One Medical: Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that the FTC, which has been probing Amazon’s market power for years, had decided not to challenge the deal. Instead the agency is issuing a letter warning Amazon and One Medical that the FTC investigation remains open. That paved the way for Amazon to finalize the acquisition.
* Oak Park | Political fund headed by Oak Park Dem faces late reporting fines: A political committee led by a prominent Oak Park Democrat that spent approximately $7.3 million to help Democrats win two crucial Illinois Supreme Court races last fall faces the prospect of thousands of dollars in fines for not properly disclosing the bulk of its spending in a timely manner. The All for Justice independent expenditure committee was founded last August by attorney Luke Casson, a former member of the Triton College Board, political director of the Democratic Party of Oak Park and a close friend and associate of Illinois State Senate President Don Harmon. Casson serves as chairman and treasurer of All for Justice.
* Crain’s | At 66, the Rev. James Meeks launches a second career as a homebuilder: In a long-disinvested neighborhood, revitalization is an uphill battle, fraught with obstacles like financing, high crime, the stability of homeowners who convert from renting and, according to Meeks, “skepticism.” Looking around the blocks on his project map, many of them gap-toothed with vacant lots, it’s difficult to picture the change he foresees.
* Belleville News-Democrat | Illinois fines Troy facility where resident with dementia died after wandering outside: The state has cited the assisted living facility Aspen Creek of Troy and fined it $4,000 after a resident with dementia wandered outside into below-freezing temperatures and died last month.
* WAND | Leaked Akorn video confirms company closure and mass layoffs: We also spoke with an employee leaving the 1222 W. Grand Ave. location who told us she was informed at a meeting Wednesday morning that “everyone” was being let go.
* Crain’s | $225 million U of C lab project underway in Hyde Park: The 302,388-square-foot building is breaking ground after several years of strong growth that made biotech and life sciences one of the strongest sectors in commercial real estate. Unlike technology or other types of office work, life sciences research doesn’t lend itself to remote work.
* The Gazette | GOP advances setting high thresholds for CO2 pipelines: Dozens of landowners and activists Tuesday swarmed the Iowa Capitol, asking lawmakers to ban eminent domain authority for proposed carbon dioxide pipelines as lawmakers advanced a bill that opponents say would be a “de facto ban” on the projects — and the bane of the state’s ethanol industry.
* The Guardian | US local news outlets need tax breaks to help save democracy, says advocate: The Rebuild Local News coalition is pushing for a comprehensive list of tax credits to keep afloat local newsrooms, such as a tax refund for local news digital subscribers, payroll tax credits for hiring and retaining local reporters, and a tax credit for small businesses to advertise in local news outlets.
* ABC | US home sales decline for 12th straight month as rates take bite out of affordability: Existing home sales declined 0.7% in January from the month before, the 12th straight month of decline to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4 million. Sales were down 36.9% from January 2022.
* Crain’s | A map to unify info from all of the food banks in Illinois: The Thierer Family Foundation announced today it has reached an agreement with all eight food banks in Illinois to power their tech for the map “that covers 100% of the food-insecure population in the state.” The food banks will use the foundation’s Vivery tool, a platform to help the population find resources that are tailored to their needs in a “contiguous map.”
* NBC | Supreme Court skeptical of claim that Twitter aided and abetted terrorist attack: Wednesday’s argument was the second part of a Big Tech double-header at the Supreme Court, where the justices wrestled Tuesday with a related case about whether Google-owned YouTube can be sued for similar conduct in connection with the killing of Nohemi Gonzalez, a U.S. college student, in the 2015 Paris attacks carried out by the Islamic State terrorist group.
* CBS Chicago | Instruments saved from WWII to be played at Illinois concerts: Dozens of musical instruments nearly lost during World War II were recovered and restored. Now they’re being played as a symbol of hope and survival. “Violins of Hope” is a series of concerts, exhibits, and other events coming to Illinois from April through September.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 2:51 pm
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If Staten Island is “in New York City,” why does the Trib describe it as a “suburb?”
Comment by vern Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:17 pm
“the panic his appearances caused was demonstrative of just how much he scares politically ambitious Democrats.”
Desantis has shown everyone how to win with the Trump playbook. He has a beautiful family will play a huge roll in a presidential campaign. I don’t know if it is panic, but going on offense against him as hard as possible is the right move. Because he is ready for primetime. And is as equally as dastardly as Trump, and certainly a more capable politician.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:27 pm
Really don’t like when politicians bring anyone’s family into the discussion.
DeSantis was off base in bringing our Governor’s family into his FOP presentation in Elmhurst.
Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:29 pm
I never hunted a deer in my life but I was fascinated to read those stats. Nice diversion from politics and this lame mayoral election. Lets get to round 2.
Comment by regular democrat Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:30 pm
Democrats have nothing to be concerned about if 1-issue DeSantos is running on “woke”. America runs on Dunken.
Comment by Jerry Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:32 pm
== a new proposal for an Illinois graduated income tax ==
I would suggest the author add a clause locking in the proposed rates for a specific period, say 10 years or maybe even 20. It might help overcome voter skepticism and distrust.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:52 pm
DeSantis’ visit just politics.
Was interesting seeing the elected Republicans listed in attendance in Elmhurst, including Darren Bailey.
Makes one think some Republicans think DeSantis is the way to rid the party of Trump next year.
Comment by John Lopez Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:55 pm
== I never hunted a deer in my life ==
Lost access to the hunting property I used about 40 years ago due to a divorce.
So I haven’t hunted for a long time.
Seriously, Illinois has a pretty healthy population of deer. Either you thin them by hunting, or you go through boom and bust cycles due to overgrazing and starvation. I criticize a lot of what State government does, but the people at Conservation do a pretty decent job with the limited resources they have. And the fees from the various permits pay for a lot of the conservation that happens in this state.
Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 3:59 pm
I suppose “iffy” is an appropriate description if it is synonymous with “unconstitutional”. “Martwick’s bill would be effective tax years beginning on and after January 1, 2024. The earliest a constitutional amendment could be on the ballot is the 2024 general election. Assume that such a constitutional amendment passes this time in November 2024 and is certified sometime in December. I suppose Martwick’s legislation, if enacted, could have retroactive effect back to January 1? While that could result in a nice windfall for anyone who has rates reduced under his legislation, it would be a nasty surprise for anyone who is subject to higher rates. It could also have a material impact on the state budget, depending on the net effect of his legislation revenues.
Comment by Facts Matter Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:21 pm
Akorn leaving Decatur…the last thing that the city needs is more decent-paying jobs leaving.
I’m skeptical of someone stepping in to utilize the facilities, as the old Firestone campus is still collecting dust after over 20 years.
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:21 pm
EDIT: the city needs is *the loss of* more decent-paying jobs…
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:22 pm
===Martwick’s legislation, if enacted===
I seriously doubt it’s gonna be.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:22 pm
Pritzker did his visit to Tampa in July to test out his political pull in Florida (transparently testing the waters for a presidential race). DeSantis returned the courtesy by visiting urban centers in the NorthEast and Midwest. It’s called national politics and its unreasonable to expect either Pritzker (who I believe will run) to not visit the biggest swing state in the nation, or DeSantis to not seek to be on the ballot in Illinois. 67 pledged delegates is a pretty large number to just ignore.
I get it, the comments section is used to a GOP that seems to commit political malpractice as a habit, but it seems a bit unreasonable to expect DEFCON 2 level gaffs and suicidally poor decision-making from legitimate national level politicians (certain recent presidential examples being an outlier).
Comment by Just Another Anon Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:25 pm
The deer have to be “thinned” by hunters…who, by the way, killed the Wolf and the Bear…too.
Nature had it’s own balance…once.
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:38 pm
“Martwick said something needs to be done to avoid cutting funding for state services.”
So the Graduated income tax is pushed to raise revenue for services. If Martwick is so concerned about that, and assuming he does not favor cutting spending, then pass an income tax increase. Raise the flat income tax from 4.95 % to 6%, 7 %, or 8%. Then use an EITC scheme to give breaks to low-income folks. They have the votes just not the will to pay the political price for one of their priorities.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:50 pm
===I get it, the comments section is used to a GOP that seems to commit political malpractice as a habit, but it seems a bit unreasonable to expect DEFCON 2 level gaffs and suicidally poor decision-making from legitimate national level politicians (certain recent presidential examples being an outlier).===
What’s adorable is looking at DeSantis’ governing “wins” and governing within the GOP thinking and missing that DeSantis going to run as the “acceptable Trump” but will be framed in a general election as the “acceptable David Duke” in policy, “without the “Trump baggage”
Why I say adorable is what folks seemingly forget, or try to ignore;
The GOP base is a cult, and what hasn’t translated in a large swath overall is a denunciation of Trump, it’s a wish to denounce him…
But you keep thinking that “governing DeSantis” has in social policies an acceptable path, while not being Trump is quite a thought to…
===it seems a bit unreasonable to expect DEFCON 2 level gaffs and suicidally poor decision-making from legitimate national level politicians===
Running on his accomplishments in a general election will be a heck of “contending”…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:53 pm
==Please continue to follow Illinois Review and DeVore Law Offices for more updates as they become available.==
It’s nice to see that the Illinois Review is now an extension of the DeVore Law Offices. lol. These people.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:55 pm
Demoralized, glad you caught that
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:55 pm
===It’s nice to see that the Illinois Review is now an extension of the DeVore Law Offices.===
Chef Kiss.
The grifting and side hustles to the existence of DeVore, and enablers… it will continue in “left handed” ways until the in-law uncle is broke, someone is disbarred, moved, or retired… or the Marks realize they are marks
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 4:59 pm
- Just Another Anon -
Think on this, as DeSantis tries to be the alternative to Trump, the ad where DeSantis is “indoctrinating” his child into Trumpism.
Now, I ain’t no smarty ad person, but DeSantis reading that Trump book, “indoctrinating” a small child, while having as a governing policy… banning books
Dunno if it’s DEFCON “anything”, but Trump has poisoned many a candidate, including DeSantis
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 5:35 pm
===“Not only was this not the process that the parties agreed upon and that the Court had ordered, but plaintiffs and the monitor believe this new version of the plan had regressed rather than improved,” the judge said in his ruling.===
That gosh darned Department or Corrections better clean up their act or the governor’s just going to close them.
I wonder if they have any explanation about why they refused to follow the judicial ruling, other than absolute contempt that people have rights even when they’re in prison.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Feb 22, 23 @ 6:34 pm