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Isabel’s afternoon roundup

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Illinois

The longtime chief of staff for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is scheduled to report to a federal prison Tuesday.

Tim Mapes is required to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons before noon. […]

He was sentenced to 30-months in prison.

It is unclear where Mapes will serve his time. He requested to serve his term at a facility in Pensacola, Florida.

* Axios…

The number of partisan-backed outlets designed to look like impartial news outlets has officially surpassed the number of real, local daily newspapers in the U.S., according to a new analysis. […]

There are least 1,265 websites identified as being backed by dark money or are intentionally masquerading as local news sites for political purposes, according to a new report from NewsGuard, a misinformation tracking company.

As of last year, there were only 1,213 daily local newspapers in the U.S. That number may have gone down significantly in the time since, but the researchers who track that data have yet to release an updated figure for 2024. […]

Nearly half (45%) of the sites observed as part of the study were targeted to communities or regions in swing states, according to an Axios analysis of the sites. The most frequently targeted states are Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Michigan and Georgia.

*** Statewide ***

* Fox Chicago | Illinois State Museum seeks Route 66 memories to honor iconic roadway: Video recordings and interview transcriptions will be made available to the public through an online database as part of the anniversary celebration. “These interviews will help illustrate the significance of this important transportation achievement,” said Erika Holst, the museum’s curator of history.

* 21st Show | How did women access abortions in Illinois before Roe v. Wade?: Before Roe v. Wade recognized a constitutional right to abortion across America, women still found ways to end their pregnancies. In Illinois, that meant seeking help from an underground, feminist abortion service operating under the code name “Jane.”

* WAND | Illinois Free Fishing days to coincide with Father’s Day weekend: According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, from June 14 through the 17, anglers can fish without purchasing a fishing license, salmon stamp or inland trout stamp. Information about fishing spots, regulations, and angling basics can be found at IFishIllinois.org.

*** Chicago ***

* WTTW | Facing Shortfall of Nearly $400M, Chicago Public Schools Pushes Back Budget Release to July: CPS on Tuesday announced the CPS CEO Pedro Martinez had informed network and school leaders the final draft of its FY25 budget would now be presented in July as the district continues “finalizing the total budget.” “The District will use this additional time to collaborate with CPS stakeholders and do further diligence since the budget model is new and being implemented for the first time,” a CPS spokesperson said in a statement. “The District will finalize a FY2025 budget that will continue to support strong academic progress.”

* Block Club | Could ‘Newcomer Liaisons’ Help Migrant Students Struggling In Chicago Schools?: Calls for more support for migrant students come as the district faces a large budget shortfall for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. With pandemic relief dollars drying up, the district is facing a nearly $400 million budget deficit while the state has its own financial challenges.

* Sun-Times | CPS teacher residency program growing, helping fill classrooms: Five years in, the program is making good progress — including growing by the hundreds. A cohort of 193 teachers was honored at an induction ceremony Monday after finishing their year of residency and earning a teacher license. They’ll have their own classes in the fall. CPS has already recruited 225 prospective teachers for next year’s program.

* Sun-Times | Buddy Guy bringing ‘that Chicago sound’ to NASCAR Chicago: If you missed Buddy Guy’s incredible Blues Festival closing-night set on Sunday, or if you were there (and thousands were) and you’re hoping to catch the blues icon one more time on a stage near you, you’re in luck. Guy will be among the music lineup for NASCAR Chicago, it was announced Tuesday morning. The Chicago legend will perform on the main stage at Grant Park Festival Field from 1:15 -2 p.m. July 6, following a special 40th Anniversary Chicago House Music showcase.

* Crain’s | United gears up for DNC with more flights: The convention would boost United’s total to more than 530 flights a day at O’Hare on peak days, which would be its busiest schedule since before the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline says. The biggest increase comes, not surprisingly, between O’Hare and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with 38 more flights, or a 40% increase.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Tribune | Dozens of supporters hail convicted ex-Ald. Ed Burke as devoted public servant ahead of his sentencing: Among the dozens of letter-writers: high-profile names in local legal circles and law enforcement, Burke’s family members, a former defensive end for the Bears, and several local Catholic clergymen. A now-retired firefighter wrote that Burke pulled strings to make sure his severely disabled son would not be denied insurance coverage. The former principal of a Southwest Side elementary school said Burke helped the struggling school get two playgrounds, an electronic message board, and support for its pre-K program.

* Crain’s | Cook County allots $44 million to mental health efforts: The money will be spread among 53 organizations, including Alivio Medical Center and Alianza Americas. The grant program, dubbed “Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County Initiative,” is funded by American Rescue Plan Act dollars. Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle said at a press conference today the investment will help support services and programs addressing behavioral health inequities. The goal is to expand access to early intervention and prevention, treatment and recovery programs for those with depression, anxiety, behavioral and substance abuse disorders.

* Naperville Sun | With a deadline pending on its electricity contract, Naperville council rejects hiring energy consultants: Naperville is starting the process of looking at how it will supply the electricity used by residents and business owners after 2035, when the contract with its current provider, the coal-heavy Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA), is set to expire. The agency wants the city to extend its contract by mid-2025 instead of waiting until closer to the expiration date. The consultants requested by staff would have explored what the energy world will look like in 11 years to help determine the options available. The two contracts would have cost a total of $250,000, but were rejected by the council last week because of concerns over timing, necessity and the bid process.

*** Downstate ***

* SJ-R | More than $20M in state funds going to City of Springfield. Here’s how it will be used: After hinting at its possibility earlier in May, Pritzker signed the $53.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2025 on last week which included $4 million to design and construct a park at the grass lot north of the Governor’s Mansion. The 2.25-acre lot served as the home of the YWCA and has set empty since 2017. […] [Mayor Misty Buscher] added that she wants the new development to include an amphitheater and to allow for the continuation of the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series. Requests for comment from IDNR regarding when the project could start and be completed went unreturned prior to publication.

* WGLT | McLean County to consider eliminating elected auditor, adding advisory panel for mental health funding: The language of the proposed referendum for the November 2024 ballot indicates the county would save money based on “the elimination of redundant functions,” referring to external audits the county must contract for, beyond the scope of the elected auditor. “There are some functions that are required by state law to be completed by an outside firm and then there are other responsibilities that only a CPA [certified public accountant] can do,” said county administrator Cassy Taylor, noting that current county auditor Michelle Anderson lacks those credentials; there are no qualifications required for elected office.

* SJ-R | ‘This is history’: Supporters urge Springfield Race Riot site to become national monument: The Rev. T. Ray McJunkins noted that several years ago it was a small group of people in Springfield championing the site of the 1908 Race Riot to become a national monument. After Monday’s listening session at his home parish, Union Baptist Church, once in the sights of those same rioters when it stood at 12th and Mason streets, McJunkins admitted he felt “overwhelmed” seeing more than 400 people in the church hall.

posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Jun 11, 24 @ 2:23 pm

Comments

Regarding true race history…the healing can only begin by exposing the wounds to Sunshine.

Comment by Dotnonymous x Tuesday, Jun 11, 24 @ 2:47 pm
I love the AMP concerts on the Y block, and I hope when the AMP grant runs out, the Mayor has a plan to keep the concerts going, with funding for the sound system and stage and for the bands. Otherwise it will all die out and go away when the Levitt funds stop. The goal of AMP is to plant the seed for regular weekly free shows that become self-sustaining. Then AMP moves on to start the same movement in more towns. It would be tragic to have no funding in place to sustain this project when the Levitt money is spent. Don’t drop the ball on this, Mayor. Begin the planning now for the follow up later, something the council is not particularly good at.

Comment by Give Us Barrabbas Tuesday, Jun 11, 24 @ 4:33 pm
= A now-retired firefighter wrote that Burke pulled strings to make sure his severely disabled son would not be denied insurance coverage. =

Telling a judge that someone convicted of corruption should be given leniency because he “pulled strings” does not seem to me to be a compelling argument.

Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Jun 11, 24 @ 5:23 pm
Isn’t there a marker on the Old Capitol Plaza referencing the riot? Maybe I’m remembering it wrong.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Jun 11, 24 @ 5:30 pm
- Tim Mapes is required to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons before noon. -

Enjoy your trip, Tim, I hope it was all worth it. Sure couldn’t have happened to a more pleasant guy.

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Jun 11, 24 @ 6:48 pm
“Nearly half (45%) of the sites observed as part of the study were targeted to communities or regions in swing states, according to an Axios analysis of the sites. The most frequently targeted states are Illinois, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Michigan and Georgia.”

Cue the Sesame Street “One of these things.”

Comment by ESR Tuesday, Jun 11, 24 @ 7:28 pm
=== Tim Mapes is required to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons before noon.===

He’ll be fine.

Comment by Just Me 2 Tuesday, Jun 11, 24 @ 10:10 pm