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Isabel’s morning briefing

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Illinois

* Here you go…

Tribune | Former Madigan chief of staff Tim Mapes heading to trial on charges he lied to federal grand jury investigating his boss:

* Sun-Times | Michael Madigan’s ex-chief of staff once seemed to know everything, except on the witness stand — now, he’s headed to trial for perjury: Now, Mapes is set to stand trial starting Monday in Chicago on federal charges of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice for an alleged bid to block prosecutors’ investigation of Madigan, who forced Mapes to resign in 2018, and Michael McClain, another Springfield insider.

* Sun-Times | Quantum quarterbacks: Pritzker a ‘geek’ for computing science that Emanuel calls ‘cutting edge of the next generation’: Leaving the science to the experts, the governor and former Chicago mayor concentrate on bringing attention and funds to support the experimental field of quantum computing. Both grasp the potential, including faster development of vaccines and unhackable computers.

* AP | Father charged with helping suspect in Highland Park shooting obtain gun license to ask judge to toss case: Illinois prosecutors charged Robert Crimo Jr. under a unconstitutionally vague law, his lawyers are expected to argue at a hearing in Waukegan, north of Highland Park where the shooting occurred. If Lake County Judge George Strickland allows the case to proceed, Crimo Jr.’s bench trial would start Nov. 6.

* WEHT | July Illinois marijuana sales break records: The state’s regulating department says that July’s marijuana sales topped 140 million dollars. That’s the highest this year, and the second highest monthly total since marijuana became legal for recreational use back in 2020.

* NBC Chicago | Illinois transit bill includes reduced fares, requires zero-emission buses: One of the most-noteworthy inclusions in the bill was a provision that will require all transit agencies to purchase zero-emission buses by July 1, 2026. In addition, the legislation will provide free fare cards for victims of domestic violence, with state agencies partnering with The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, according to the language of the bill.

* NBC Chicago | Insulin price changes among new Illinois laws signed by Gov. Pritzker: Under provisions of HB 2189, access to medically-necessary insulin will be expanded and protected, with a maximum out-of-pocket cost of $35 for a 30-day supply for those with medical insurance.

* WMAY | Illinois bans driving while utilizing video applications such as Zoom: In the “I can’t believe that was actually allowed” category, Gov Pritzker just signed into law a ban on driving while participating “in any video conferencing application, including, but not limited to, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or WebEx, or access any social media site, including but not limited to Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram or Twitter.”

* WAND | Pritzker signs bills honoring ancestry of Native Americans in Illinois: Although, a new law calls on the Illinois State Museum and federally recognized tribes to help return the Native remains and artifacts for proper burial. The law will also allow the state to create a cemetery for remains that are unable to be identified.

* Daily Herald | Monthly COVID deaths drop to an all-time low in Illinois: Just 41 Illinois residents died of COVID in June, an all-time monthly low since the outset of the pandemic in March 2020. […] The highest monthly death toll in Illinois came in December 2020, when 4,237 deaths were recorded.

* WTTW | What Chicago and Illinois Residents Should Know About COVID-19 Uptick, New Vaccine in the Fall: Local public health officials say it’s too soon to sound the alarms about a potential surge; however, they offer insight into how health departments are approaching COVID-19 since the end of the public health emergency declaration in May and how people can protect themselves, especially as we head into the fall season.

* Sun-Times | Chicago Police Board’s disciplinary power undercut by arbirtrator’s ruling: Chicago police officers who have been recommended for firing or suspensions of more than a year will have the option of going around the Chicago Police Board and putting their fate in the hands of an independent arbitrator under a new ruling Mayor Brandon Johnson called a “major setback” for police reform.

* Tribune | 52 days on the road: A migrant family’s desperate journey to Chicago: The Tribune traveled with Esperanza and her family from El Paso — one of the world’s largest urban border regions — to Chicago Union Station to gain a better understanding of what migrants might experience on the U.S. portion of their journey. The trip took more than 48 hours by bus and train.

* WSPY | Davis thinks that SAFE-T is done deal: 75th District Republican State Rep. Jed Davis says that the SAFE-T Act, which was recently upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court, is not right for Illinois. Although he does say that area law enforcement are ready for it.

* Shaw Local | Dixon school board member Fritts pleads guilty to failure to reduce speed in brother’s death: John Fritts, 76, of Dixon, was the campaign manager for his cousin, GOP Rep. Bradley J. Fritts, who won the 74th District seat in a race against outgoing Dixon Mayor Li Arellano Jr.

* The Telegraph | Former Alton union leader heading to prison: Byron Clemons, Sr., 36, of Alton, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen money and was sentenced by a U.S. District judge to 18 months in prison after he admitted to embezzling more than $200,000 from the Alton chapter of the AFSCME labor union and using the money for personal expenses.

* Tribune | Illinois attorney general sides with Winnetka in Open Meetings Act dispute related to lakefront land controversy: The challenge was filed by Winnetka resident Ted Wynnychenko after the Dec. 6, 2022, Village Council meeting where discussion was held about the consolidation of several plots of land owned by Ishbia and his wife Kristin. After an hour in closed session, the council voted unanimously to approve combining the four lots into a single 3.7-acre lot for the family to build a home.

* WICS | Redneck Fishing Tournament draws dozens of boats to the Illinois River: “The fish were huge this year. We dodged more than we probably caught, but it was a lot of fun,” John Patterson, a participant, said. […] “It’s a little bit dangerous. It’s a great day on the river. You see a community like Bath that has this horrible invasive species, and they can all sit around and complain. instead, they create this great event around it,” Patterson said.

posted by Isabel Miller
Monday, Aug 7, 23 @ 7:37 am

Comments

Re: Rep Davis,

So, what you’re telling me is the usual hue, cry, and screams of Armageddon from your party was, once again, cheap theater.

Voted GOP most of my early adulthood, but this lot make my gorge rise.

Comment by Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Aug 7, 23 @ 7:47 am
===State Rep. Jed Davis says that the SAFE-T Act, which was recently upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court, is not right for Illinois. Although he does say that area law enforcement are ready for it.===

Welp, I guess it’s a win, still being “against it”, but acknowledging locals are ready to uphold it?

It’s not like there was this whole push of misinformation…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 7, 23 @ 8:32 am
Chicago Police Board power changed by arbitrator’s ruling. jeez. more confusion in how things are resolved in Chicago with police. It helps no one to have such confusion.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Aug 7, 23 @ 8:44 am
You would think that someone in the position Mapes finds himself in would be aware that the feds almost never lose these type of cases.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Aug 7, 23 @ 9:26 am
reading about the potential for Mapes to be convicted reminds of when there was a successful search for a weasel on the farm.

Comment by Amalia Monday, Aug 7, 23 @ 10:01 am
==the feds almost never lose these type of cases.==

Yes and juries seem to dislike politicians and lobbyists and the various staffs now more than ever.

Comment by low level Monday, Aug 7, 23 @ 10:04 am
The same egos that cause them to engage in the misconduct in the first place make them think they are the special ones who can beat the odds.

Comment by Big Dipper Monday, Aug 7, 23 @ 10:51 am
Mapes: “I almost got away with it, except for you meddling kids” (line from original Scooby-Doo cartoon).
Background music at trial: Theme from Beverly Hills Cop “Shakedown”: “Let down Your guard
Honey, just about the time you’re thinkin’ it’s alright, Breakdown, Takedown, You’re busted”

Comment by thisjustinagain Monday, Aug 7, 23 @ 12:36 pm
I can’t believe people were taking video calls over zoom while driving! I normally pull over just to participate in zoom group voice calls. I mean, there is back and forth on these, and listening to topics having nothing to do with… CRASH! Hold on guys, the car in front of me just stopped suddenly.

Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Aug 7, 23 @ 1:14 pm