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Isabel’s morning briefing

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Illinois

* Here you go…

Sun-Times | ‘I do not think we should talk in person or on the phone,’ ex-top aide to Madigan was warned after asking about federal probe

* Tribune | Gun rights group files federal lawsuit against firearm manufacturer liability measure signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker over weekend: The suit was filed on behalf of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which also is one of the main groups behind a federal lawsuit alleging that Illinois’ ban on certain high-powered guns and high-capacity ammunition magazines violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

* WBEZ | Civil rights lawyers call on Illinois to fire private prison health care company: Illinois lawmakers heard testimony on Monday from civil rights lawyers and family members about the dismal state of health care in the state’s prisons: people in wheelchairs left sitting in their own waste, bedsores and falls because of improper assistance and virtually no therapy for people with severe mental illness.

* Scott Holland | Navigating nuclear future remains politically challenging for governor: On the national political scene, energy legislation remains challenging for Democrats. The party’s progressive wing demands much stronger action than the conventional liberals holding power can or will advance. Every possible reform has dramatic economic implications. For Pritzker specifically, translating his Illinois approach to federal office might be challenging because how we get our power varies greatly from state to state.

* WAND | Illinois law blocks police from using license plate readers to track abortion patients: “We created an island on which every human being is recognized and given the dignity of controlling their own body and their own destiny,” said Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago). “That includes people who are traveling into the state of Illinois to seek legal healthcare services.”

* ABC Chicago | Judge rules Cook County properly used $240 million in transportation funds: The legal battle has been raging for years after the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association filed a lawsuit, along with numerous other groups, arguing that Cook County was violating the language of the “Illinois Transportation taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment,” which passed during the 2016 election.

* Jen Walling and Jack Darin | Pritzker was right to keep moratorium on new Illinois nuclear plants: We are no closer to a national solution for the disposal of dangerous high-level nuclear wastes. Illinois already has the most nuclear reactors in the country and bears the burden of storing this waste in our communities, including along the shores of Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. These wastes have significant safety risks and threaten our drinking water and communities. We should not add to the growing stockpiles of hazardous waste.

* Pioneer Press | Highland Park, Deerfield high schools move up metal detector installation following shooting of 16-year-old student: Plans originally called for a random announcement and implementation of the new safety precaution but were moved up to Aug. 16 after a Highland Park High School student was shot and killed over the weekend. 16-year-old Omar Morales-Diaz was shot early Sunday morning on Green Bay Road by a man on the sidewalk. Authorities believe the shooting was intentional.

* Sun-Times | Johnson quotes Tupac, dances around questions about health chief’s firing: Johnson didn’t answer directly, paraphrasing Tupac instead. “You can’t always go by the things that you hear. Right? `Real eyes realize real lies,’ “ Johnson said.

* NBC Chicago | Chicago’s ex-top doctor reveals how she was fired in new wide-reaching interview: “So I got a call from the chief of staff, and I met with him and he said, ‘This is a hard discussion, but you are being terminated,’” Arwady said. “And I said, ‘That is not a major surprise at this point.’ Just knowing the mayor, of course, has the opportunity to bring on whomever he wants. But then what really was disturbing to me, was I said, ‘Let’s talk timeline,’ and he said, ‘It’s effective immediately.’”

* Chalkbeat | Biden taps education researcher known for work on school funding as economics adviser: Some of his other research has found that parents are good at choosing effective schools. Another recent study of his found positive results from a Chicago program to grant principals more autonomy over their schools.

* Sports Handle | Illinois Sportsbooks Continue Strong 2023 With $54.7 Million Revenue For June: The Illinois Gaming Board reported $54.7 million in adjusted gross sports wagering revenue for June, continuing a strong 2023 for sportsbook operators in the Land of Lincoln.

* Sun-Times | Chicago police officer, sister convicted of charges stemming from Capitol riot: Officer Karol Chwiesiuk and his sister, Agnieszka, were convicted of entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

* Crain’s | No, it’s not going to be above 110 degrees in Chicago next week: iPhone users in the Chicago area who checked the Apple weather app Monday morning may have seen a startling prediction at the end of the 10-day forecast. In what would be the city’s hottest day on record, the app predicted temperatures to reach as high as 111 degrees Fahrenheit next Wednesday, Aug. 23. That kind of heat would likely close schools, shut down businesses and pose significant health risks to some residents.

* WBBM | Renovations continue on Illinois Statehouse: ‘Something to be proud of’: Here are some of the timelines related to the work: the Senate is expected to occupy its chamber in January 2025; an underground conference center and new entrance are expected to be ready that August.

* SJ-R | Chris Camp’s shows and other things to do in Conservation World: Camp didn’t have anyone to teach the tricks of how to crack a whip a la Harrison Ford, so he watched “Indiana Jones,” and films like it, he said “over and over and over again” until he got the moves down.

posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 7:29 am

Comments

I don’t get what’s so controversial about letting Arwady go. Johnson explicitly ran against her approach on mental health, and a new mayor is going to appoint new staff. Elections have consequences.

Comment by ChicagoVinny Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 7:54 am
Big thanks to Isabel for reminding us that life goes on despite another indictment of now Quarce Indicted Sexual Abuser Trump.

Comment by SouthSideGT Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 8:20 am
For all of the positive moves and handling of challenging decisions by mayor Johnson, the way he handled the Arwady dismissal was pretty weak. Gutless even. Do better Mr. Mayor.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 9:14 am
totally agreed, JS Mill. I wonder what else is going on between those two, because he comes off pretty childish here.

Comment by The Truth Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 9:33 am
This made me laugh out loud: “I do not think we should talk in person or on the phone”. Which was put in an email, which lasts forever.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 9:37 am
==I wonder what else is going on between those two, because he comes off pretty childish here==

This was retaliation for opening the schools earlier than CTU wanted them opened during COVID.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 10:05 am
===This was retaliation for…===

… and a lot of other things.

===I said, ‘Let’s talk timeline,’ and he said, ‘It’s effective immediately.’===

Serving at the pleasure of any elected, the timeline is a courtesy, not a discussion.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 10:21 am
===people in wheelchairs left sitting in their own waste, bedsores and falls because of improper assistance and virtually no therapy for people with severe mental illness.===

This is the kind of thing that underscores why we all go to the bad place.

Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 10:35 am
Lightfoot and Arwady did resist JB on Covid mitigations, so good riddance to both.

Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 10:45 am
For Illinois to win this new gun case, federal courts will have respect thinking locally and acting locally which was the point of federalism.

Comment by Steve Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 11:00 am
===… and a lot of other things.===

You’re not a mobster.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 11:56 am
===You’re not a mobster.===

Where did I claim to be one?

lol

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 12:02 pm
==Serving at the pleasure ==

I agree. I was just attempting to answer their query.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 12:05 pm
===I was just attempting to answer their query.===

Oh, it’s ok, it was just finishing my own thought. It’s not like I’m a mobster and plan retaliation for that… and a lot of other things.

:)

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 15, 23 @ 12:08 pm