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* Tribune…
When the Illinois Commerce Commission rejected an emergency motion by Peoples Gas to restore $134 million of disallowed pipeline replacement funding for 2024, the work ground to halt while the state prepared to conduct a new investigation into the long-running program.
That has resulted in dozens of unfinished projects across the city and hundreds of layoffs by contractors scheduled to work on the pipeline replacement program this year, the utility said. It also meant a smaller than requested rate increase for residential gas customers in Chicago of about $8.20 per month, which began in January, according to the utility.
But as Peoples covered holes in the ground for projects that were put on hold, it also convinced the ICC earlier this month to give the utility another shot with a “limited scope” rate request rehearing to fund completion of the unfinished work.
Testimony will begin next month and by May the ICC is expected to rule on whether Peoples can finish the work that was already underway — and pass the additional costs along to customers.
* Hannah Billingsley, who is running against Rep. Maura Hirschauer (D-Batavia), revealed on Facebook that she consulted an AI app before appearing on a radio program…
Starting 2024 doing NEW things! ⭐️
I asked ChatGPT how to nail my first radio interview. Essentially, “Be yourself and be lighthearted.” Of course, I interpreted that as ‘Roast Verlon about his age and his music choices.’ That was fun. Thanks, ChatGPT. And thanks, Verlon, for being a good ol’ sport (pun intended).
* Politico…
— Congressman Darin LaHood has endorsed Tim Yager in his bid to represent the state Senate’s 37th District. Yager, a Republican, is a farmer, Henry County Board member and Henry County Farm Bureau Board member. The 37th is currently represented by Republican state Sen. Win Stoller, who isn’t seeking reelection.
— Congressman Danny Davis (IL-07) has been endorsed by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and county commissioners Dennis Deer, Donna Miller, Bill Lowry, Tara Stamps and Stanley Moore.
— Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) has been endorsed by the Illinois AFL-CIO in his reelection bid.
* Press release…
Over-the-year, total nonfarm jobs increased in eight metropolitan areas, decreased in five and was unchanged in one for the year ending December 2023, according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES). Over-the-year, the unemployment rate increased in thirteen metropolitan areas and decreased in one.
“We are pleased to see continued positive economic trends across Illinois,” said Deputy Governor Andy Manar. “IDES remains committed to sustaining a viable workforce ecosystem in which jobseekers and employers remain engaged and connected.”
The metro areas that had the largest over-the-year percentage increases in total nonfarm jobs were the Danville MSA (+1.8%, +500) and the Springfield MSA (+1.7%, +1,900). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago Metro were up +0.8% or +31,600. The metro areas with the largest over-the-year percentage decreases in total nonfarm jobs were the Kankakee MSA (-1.6%, -700) and the Decatur MSA (-1.4%, -700). Peoria MSA saw no change in total nonfarm jobs. The industries that saw job growth in a majority of metro areas included: Education and Health Services (eleven areas); Leisure and Hospitality and Government (ten areas each); Mining and Construction (nine areas); and Other Services (eight areas).
The metro areas with the largest unemployment rate increases were the Rockford MSA (+1.3 points to 5.9%), the Decatur MSA (+1.2 points to 5.7%), and the Kankakee MSA (+1.2 points to 5.9%). The unemployment rate fell in the Chicago Metro (-0.3 point to 3.9%).
* Here’s the rest…
* Tribune | Cash from Chicago City Hall insiders helped mother of Johnson’s top aide in her run for Houston mayor: Jackson Lee would go on to get a financial boost in her Texas campaign from Chicago City Hall insiders, bringing in more than $51,500 from city contractors, lobbyists and politicians between that August fundraiser and her loss in the December runoff, a Tribune analysis found. In total, her mayoral campaign raised $77,600 from donors with Illinois addresses.
* SJ-R | Illinois lawmakers, Giannoulias advocate for ‘Skittle law’ banning food additives: The legislation called the Illinois Food Safety Act and known colloquially as the “Skittle law,” is modeled after a California law passed in October and follows a ban in the European Union. If passed, it would go into effect in 2027. The law would also impose a civil penalty of $5,000 for first-time violators and fines not exceeding $10,000 for each subsequent infringement.
* Sun-Times | Girlfriend of Joliet mass murder suspect Romeo Nance held on home confinement in obstruction of justice case: The 21-year-old girlfriend of Joliet mass murder suspect Romeo Nance appeared in a Will County courthouse Thursday accused of giving false information to police when she claimed she didn’t know his phone number, officials said.
* WCIA | Ford Co. proposes non-sanctuary status, cites limited resources: “We’re talking about human beings here,” [Chairwoman Ann Ihrke] said. “And if they were to come here and be injured or not be doing well, then that’s not good. And it’s not good for the people that live here either, because they need the limited resources that we have.” Ihrke said nobody from the state has reached out to the county about help with migrant issues. The Zoning Committee will be fine-tuning the draft in the next couple of weeks.
* NBC Chicago | Northwestern’s handling of allegedly antisemitic incidents under investigation by US Department of Education: The complaint was filed by Zachary Marschall, the editor in chief of Campus Reform, a conservative website, over the university’s response to allegedly antisemitic incidents since the start of the Israel-Hamas war Oct. 7. According to a letter from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, the complaint alleges that Northwestern “discriminated against students on the basis of national origin (shared Jewish ancestry) by failing to respond appropriately to incidents of harassment in October, November and December.”
* WCIA | EIU officials optimistic despite slight enrollment decrease for spring 2024: According to officials, 8,688 total students are enrolled at EIU for Spring 2024 which is a 0.7% decrease from the Spring 2023 semester. […] Officials are touting improvements in several smaller subsections of the student population, including a 4% increase in international students, a 5.6% increase in high-school dual credit students, as well as a 2.1% average combined increase in fall-to-spring retention for both first-year and transfer students.
* Tribune | Brighton Park residents say city still has no clear plan to protect them from lead, other toxins identified in environmental report: “The city knows that there’s lead in the water, and they’re allowing these residents just to continue to drink it when there are steps we can take until we replace the water lines,” said Richard Zupkus, a licensed sewer specialist who lives directly behind the contaminated lot on 38th Street.
* WGN | Chemistry student busted for operating meth lab on Illinois college campus: A probable cause statement reads, “SIUE Police confirmed that the only person to make electronic access to the Science West Building between 11/22/23 and 11/27/23, and had a key to room 3000 (besides the reporting professor) was Jeremy Smalling.” Smalling, 45, was a graduate research assistant at the time. He’s listed as winning the 2018 award for physical chemistry at the university.
* Tribune | ‘Chillinois.’ ‘Taylor Drift.’ These are the finalists in the city’s snowplow naming contest.: The participants who submitted the winning names will be offered a photo opportunity beside their named plow and city swag. Chicago isn’t the only city dubbing its winter vehicles. Park Ridge announced the names of its snowplow fleet in November — including “Han Snolo” and “Sir Plows a Lot.”
* Sun-Times | White Sox hiring ESPN’s John Schriffen as new TV voice: Schriffen, 39, was among three finalists for the job, with Red Sox radio voice Will Flemming and ESPN 1000’s Connor McKnight. Schriffen, who is biracial, becomes the second Black TV play-by-play announcer in MLB, joining the Mariners’ Dave Sims. On a Zoom call with reporters, Schriffen said he doesn’t know the exact number of games he’ll broadcast, but he intends to call a vast majority.
* The Southern | Artspace 304 is hosting an exhibit of art related to a total solar eclipse: The show, PASSING into SHADOW, will be on display up and through April 8, 2024, when the real thing, the shadow of a total solar eclipse will sweep over the country and pass through Carbondale. SIU Professors Antonio Martinez and Bob Baer created a 3-dimensional work of art and science project through the generous support of Simons Foundation, a foundation which champions science through grants and gifts, bringing scientific knowledge and awareness to culture through programs like the Artspace 308 eclipse exhibit.
posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 2:32 pm
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That May decision from the Commission lines up with the last few days before session when appointments get confirmed. Just sayin.
Comment by Sycophantic averse Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 2:51 pm
RE: NBC Chicago: Northwestern Lawsuit
Ah, Campus Reform.
I am not sure about the actual lawsuit or alleged harm done, but ah, Campus Reform.
Just two weeks ago, they inducted me into the Dangerous Professors category of their ally, Turning Point USA. I am on the Professor Watchlist because I offered to host a conversation on race for the local community. I invited a preacher, a teacher, and a farmer (all of whom are very well loved here) to talk about how the rural, town and campus folks think about race issues here.
Apparently, free speech is only worth protecting if it is approved by Charles Kirk and his ilk.
PS - though the conversation never actually took place due to the blizzard, they felt the need to act quickly and place me on their hate-list.
In a way, I am honored to bring national recognition to a region of the country where none of these grifters have ever been, nor will attend.
I say grifters, because their entire existence is premised upon raising money off college students, promising to help them, but in fact, only muckraking in order to raise even more money.
Comment by H-W Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 2:57 pm
How long until ChatGPT is writing floor speeches?
Comment by Osborne Smith III Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 3:05 pm
–accused of giving false information to police when she claimed she didn’t know his phone number–
The overreactions taking place right now in Joliet are really a sight to see.
I don’t know the phone number of a single person in my contact list.
It’s not 1980 anymore. People don’t memorize phone numbers.
There have been lockdowns at the nearby school for two consecutive days since the event took place. The latest being today for a ‘disruptive patient’ at the hospital a mile away.
There was however, no lockdown when the police were in the area on Monday waiting for the guy to come back to his house after reports of him randomly shooting people in other parts of town - which is when they stumbled across the bodies.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 3:17 pm
===which is when they stumbled across the bodies. ===
It’s a real mess.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 3:37 pm
“Just two weeks ago, they inducted me into the Dangerous Professors category of their ally”
Painting with a broad brush aren’t we professor? Campus Reform is the public-facing website of the Leadership Institute. There is no connection to Turning Point USA. Unless you mean that all conservative groups should be lumped together and vilified. Not exactly showing much intellectual freedom.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 3:44 pm
Listened to John Schriffen on a radio interview. Smart. Dartmouth. Knows what he has to learn. was a news reporter before sports, ABC central. Doesn’t like spicy foods but wants food recs. Hoping he does well even as the loss of Jason B. still stings. Still really stings.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 4:27 pm
—Painting with a broad brush aren’t we professor? Campus Reform is the public-facing website of the Leadership Institute. There is no connection to Turning Point USA.
Same mission, same funders (including Bruce!) Are you really trying to act like they aren’t creations of the same network?
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 4:42 pm
So the Sox held a grudge with Jason Benetti because he didn’t call all 162 games, and they’re replacing him with a guy who is only committed to calling the vast majority of games???
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 4:42 pm
===Unless you mean that all conservative groups should be lumped together and vilified. Not exactly showing much intellectual freedom.
That might be a reasonable point if they didn’t belong to the same network of funders and cooperate on projects. But they do. Bruce donates even.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 4:49 pm
Sorry Rich/Isabel. You can delete one or the other if you want–I realized I used banned punctuation and did a second post.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 4:50 pm
@Donnie Elgin
I bet you also believe neither is a political organization either, right?
Campus Reform called. I declined to comment. Two days later, I am on the Watchlist. No connection whatsoever my butt. Thirty five years of teaching the same stuff in Illinois. Now I’m an issues and a threat to two orgs. Right, Donnie, no connection whatsoever.
Don’t be a shill for anti-free speech (PS - you did read where I said I did not have the panel, right?).
Comment by H-W Thursday, Jan 25, 24 @ 6:10 pm