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* ICYMI: House panel opens hearings on Pritzker’s health insurance reforms. Capitol News Illinois…
* Related stories…
* Isabel’s top picks…
* Center for Illinois Politics | Should We Change the Primary Process in Illinois?: Anyone familiar with the legendary ferocity of Illinois’ no holds barred politics should feel somewhat slighted that California claimed the title “Law of the Jungle” primary in its 2010 election reforms. Under that revamp, which voters approved by referendum, all candidates regardless of party labels competed on the same ballot in the March 5 nonpartisan primary. The top two vote getters, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican former baseball star Steve Garvey, will face off in November to fill the state’s open U. S. Senate seat.
* SJ-R | Supplemental spending: How Illinois could spend some of its $1.6B budget surplus: Broken down, the proposed spending calls for just shy of $1.2 billion from the General Fund, $350 million in transfers to meet one-time funding commitments and a $60 million change to lapsed appropriations. It also calls for an additional $205 million to the state’s rainy-day fund, a major initiative of Comptroller Susana Mendoza.
* WGN | Investigation into 30 explicit AI generated photos of suburban high school students underway: “I don’t know where it falls in the law. In my discussion with Richmond police last night they were still working with the McHenry County State’s Attorneys Office to figure out exactly how to lay out the charges for this,” Essex said. “In my opinion I think this is basically should be considered child pornography it’s unacceptable.”
* Here’s the rest…
* WGN | Illinois Supreme Court candidate Jesse Reyes: ‘I bring a voice to the court that is needed’: Justice Reyes talks about his history on the bench in Illinois, what made him decide to run for a seat on the Supreme Court, why he considers himself a progressive judge, what he would say to people that say the justice system is failing law-abiding citizens, how he feels the No Cash Bail provision of the SAFE-T Act is working, why all courts need to be more transparent, his take on ‘right to life’ legislation, and his thoughts on the assault weapons ban.
* Center Square | Madison County judge finds Illinois’ lawsuit venue limit law unconstitutional: The law “does violate due process, as applied to persons who reside or were injured outside of Cook or Sangamon County,” Madison County Judge Ronald Forest, Jr. wrote. “The motion to transfer is Denied, as [the law] is unconstitutional, as Defendant seeks to apply it.”
* ABC Chicago | Rhysida ransomware gang claims it sold data from Lurie Children’s Hospital hack: The hospital confirmed it knows about the claims, saying, “We are aware that individuals claiming to be Rhysida, a known threat actor, claim to have sold data they allege was taken from Lurie Children’s. We continue to work closely with internal and external experts as well as law enforcement, and are actively investigating the claims. The investigation is ongoing, and we will share updates as appropriate.”
* Crain’s | State evaluation of One Central development still hasn’t begun: Last year, the state’s Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, or DCEO, issued a request for proposals to conduct a feasibility study on the $20 billion project that would be built over Metra tracks just west of Soldier Field. The study was meant to provide hard data for state legislators as they consider whether there is demand for the giant office and residential center, if there is a need for the project to include a new transit hub and, most importantly, if it’s worth it for the state to agree to eventually purchase that transit hub for $6.5 billion from developer Bob Dunn’s Landmark Development.
* WTTW | Johnson Says He’s ‘Frustrated’ With City’s ‘Out of Control’ Overtime Spending: “Yes, I’m frustrated, yes,” Johnson said in response to a WTTW News story that was the first to report that the Chicago Police Department spent $293 million on overtime last year, 40% more than in 2022 and nearly three times the $100 million earmarked for police overtime set by the Chicago City Council as part of the city’s 2023 budget.
* Tribune | Student at Cooper Dual Language Elementary Academy reported to have measles, CPS confirms: Chicago Public Schools said the Chicago Public Health Department confirmed Monday that a student at Cooper Dual Language Elementary Academy had developed measles. The confirmation follows several cases that emerged over the last week. In a statement, CPS said it is working closely with the Chicago Department of Public Health to respond to any unvaccinated students and two recently reported positive measles cases involving CPS students.
* Sun-Times | Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $1.25 billion borrowing plan back on track for City Council approval: Johnson’s decision to borrow so much money for affordable housing and economic development signals a fundamental shift in how such projects will be financed — weaning the city from its long-standing dependence on tax increment financing.
* CBS Chicago | Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson unveils plan to invest in neighborhood groups: The focus will be on the 10 specific block groups in four separate neighborhoods: Englewood, West Garfield Park, Austin, and Little Village. The goal is to get philanthropists, faith leaders, community organizations, and businesses to help revitalize neglected areas by building stores and services.
* Sun-Times | CTA Red Line extension to get $350 million in Biden’s proposed budget: But the funding is a long way from being approved — at least for now — as it still needs Congress’ approval before getting the president’s signature. The potential funding is a critical part of the Red Line extension project, which the CTA expects to cost $3.6 billion. Last September, the agency said it was in line to receive a total of $1.9 billion in federal funding. The proposed $350 million is part of that funding, the CTA said Wednesday.
* Crain’s | Chicago-area population loss slows: The population in the metro area fell to 9.26 million people in 2023 from 9.28 million in 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. However, the decline of 16,602 people was smaller than drops of nearly 80,000 in each of the previous two years.
* Tribune | Christine Geovanis, CTU communications director and social activist, dies at 64: “She loved people and justice, and she was inspired by how accessible that fight was to everyone, and she took full advantage of that opportunity,” said CTU President Stacy Davis Gates. Geovanis died of complications from brain cancer on Feb. 12 in her Little Village home, said her sister, Janet.
* SJ-R | Have a few million dollars lying around? You could own Springfield’s tallest building: The beleaguered Wyndham Hotel, Springfield’s tallest structure which turns 50 years old in 2024, will go up for auction beginning April 15. The opening bid at TenX is listed at $3 million.
* SJ-R | Springfield fine dining restaurant reopens weeks after closing: Loukinens’ on 4th reopened its doors on March 2 after a brief stint of closing down to the public in February. The reopening comes after a series of missteps for the casual fine-dining restaurant, which closed suddenly on Feb. 13 until further notice.
* KTVI | Olivia Rodrigo offers morning-after pills at show in Missouri, where abortion is banned: Volunteers with the Missouri Abortion Fund handed out the pills, condoms and stickers at Tuesday’s concert. The nonprofit aims to provide assistance to Missouri residents who cannot afford the cost of abortion care. Rodrigo, a vocal advocate for women’s reproductive rights, also promoted an initiative called “Fund 4 Good” around her St. Louis show. A portion of proceeds from the St. Louis ticket sales will go toward the Missouri Abortion Fund and Text Right By You, an organization that educates young people about reproductive health.
* RFT | Where to Live in the Metro East if You’re a St. Louisan Fleeing Missouri: If you like Kirkwood…. You should look at Edwardsville. OK, so it’s a little “bougie hoosie,” and your kids better brace themselves for Drive Your Tractor to School Day (yes, it’s a thing). But Edwardsville is the closest thing the Metro East has to St. Louis’ affluent Missouri suburbs.
* Sun-Times | Simone Biles shows love for Chicago (and hot dogs) after Bears sign her husband, Jonathan Owens: Beyond her excitement over Chicago’s stellar junk food, the four-time Olympic gold medalist seemed thrilled to move to a big city that will let her avoid connecting flights when seeing her husband play. Biles also declared her love for her husband’s new home, adding a new chapter to the age-old rivalry between Chicago and Green Bay.
* Tribune | Chicago White Sox trade Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres, ending the ace’s 5-year run on the South Side: “It’s exciting to people,” Cease said Wednesday morning at Camelback Ranch. “It’s good for the game in the sense of, it’s exciting to fan bases. People like seeing it, so I get it. It’s fun and exciting but it’s just not a main focus.” Cease learned his fate Wednesday evening as the Chicago White Sox traded the right-handed pitcher to the San Diego Padres, a source confirmed to the Tribune. The trade became official late Wednesday, with the Sox receiving right-handed pitchers Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte and Steven Wilson and outfielder Samuel Zavala.
* Block Club | Monarch Butterflies Are In Trouble. You Can Help By Planting Milkweed: But Chicago is an important summer breeding area for migrating monarchs — which means neighbors can help get their numbers back up. “It’s kind of our job here in the Midwest to build that population back as large as possible over the summer,” Derby Lewis said.
posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 7:50 am
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Re the Supplemental. As has been noted here before, it’d be nice if the media would include bill numbers.
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 8:51 am
The Sox are not a serious franchise.
Comment by DS Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 8:55 am
Loukinens’ situation is curious. As is the Alexander’s situation.
Comment by Cheswick Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 9:08 am
Sox got a decent haul for Cease. This team is going nowhere with or without him. We’re basically back to 2017. At least I have a little more faith that Getz can eventually build a winning team than Kenny/Hahn regime. Keep collecting those prospects for now.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 9:19 am
@Cheswick
I would say more self inflicted than curious. Let’s not forget all the missteps the owners took over the years. Confronting the Gov while he ate there about the minimum wage increase and going on the news about it in 2019, protesting in front of the gov mansion about COVID restrictions in 2020, and taking over the 100,00 in businesses interruption grants then complaining on the news about not being able to open when Springfield contradicted the states dining guidelines in 2021.
This whole closing debacle is just another example of their entitlement. According to the article it was closed by a Chicago Law Firm, but on Facebook the owner was saying it was due to unpaid state taxes so of course the trolls were blaming JB. And on GoFundMe they were asking for money to pay their employees, so in other words guilting the public to donate by using their employees wages that they should be paying.
The food might be good at Loukinens but the owners aren’t.
Comment by SpringfieldFoodie Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 9:23 am
Re: the Wyndham.
Mayor Buscher, tear down that dump. s/
Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 10:19 am
Springfield Foodie= “Entitlement” says it all.
Comment by don the legend Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 10:19 am
I went to Alexander’s Steak House once many years ago. The food was fine, but I didn’t care for the concept of paying to go out to eat at a steakhouse to cook my own steak. IIRC, you could pay more to have them cook your steak. At the time, I thought it was overpriced. I think the price to pay to cook your own steak was comparable to other steak houses who cooked the steaks for you. I didn’t like the dining experience and never went back.
Comment by Steve Polite Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 10:58 am
Previous mayor of Springfield was not his dad, and lost his nerve more than once. He passed on a previous deal for revamping the hotel because he caved to a small minority that didn’t like the high/ low mix of converted apartments. The failure of vision hurt the downtown core, which needs a critical amount of residents to keep downtown businesses alive and vital. The number of hotel rooms is not the big deal it was before covid, and Springfield has enough. What downtown needs most is people that hang around and live in it rather than one- night tourist spending.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 11:30 am
Simone loves Chicago Hot Dogs? Would that be … Wolfys?
Comment by Father Guido Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 12:00 pm
The Madison County judge striking down the exclusive venue law is a loss for Harmon and Raoul. Those are stacking up lately.
Comment by Rerwit Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 12:09 pm
DeVore is claiming his first victory over the Madison County judges ruling. He went as far to say this was called The Tom DeVore Law.
Comment by Club J Thursday, Mar 14, 24 @ 1:01 pm