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* ICYMI: Judge orders Stateville Correctional Center inmates transferred by the end of September. Tribune…
A federal judge on Friday ordered Illinois prison officials to move most of the people incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center to other prisons around the state by Sept. 30 after civil rights lawyers argued the living conditions at Stateville were too hazardous for those housed there.
The court order from U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood gives the clearest first steps yet for the Illinois Department of Corrections to begin the process of closing the sprawling facility after state officials announced earlier this year a plan to dismantle the prison and build a new one on the Stateville grounds. […]
State officials previously said they would not begin “to wind down operations” at Stateville until at least September and that plans to tear down and rebuild Stateville and Logan were expected to take three to five years. In addition to the lack of specific dates for each phase of the plan, officials have not laid out a plan for how those housed in Stateville will be handled during the transition. […]
Wood’s decision was based on a court motion filed by civil rights lawyers representing people housed at Stateville, originally requesting that IDOC transfer or release them by Sept. 20, citing the aging prison’s “degradation and deterioration.” The motion was filed as part of 2013 litigation that’s meant to address the horrid conditions at the nearly century-old facility.
* WAND | Amid pressure from community activists, politicians, Sheriff Campbell announces retirement: Campbell had previously maintained that he would not resign and that he planned on upholding his responsibility as sheriff during “this difficult time.” In Friday’s statement, the sheriff said the “current political climate has made it nearly impossible” for him to continue effectively in his role and that some individuals would rather see the community divided and in turmoil.
* NYT | Black Men Rally for Kamala Harris, and Confront an Elephant in the Room: “Sometimes as Black men we get confused as to what strength is, and sometimes we think that standing behind a Black woman as a leader does not display strength as Black men,” said Kwame Raoul, the attorney general of Illinois. “I’m here to tell you all tonight that it does the opposite of that, it displays strength.” Mr. Raoul then drove home his point. “I’m standing behind a Black woman to be president of the United States, and it doesn’t make me any less of a Black man,” he said. “I’m asking all of you all to do the same.”
* Tribune | Team USA and Illinois Olympians bid adieu to Paris Games: Illinois athletes made a solid contribution to Team USA’s medal count, with half of the state’s three dozen athletes bringing home medals. That total doesn’t include the historic medal ceremony in which the 2022 U.S. figure skating team members — including Addison native Alexa Knierim — finally received the gold they’d won at the Beijing Games.
* WBBM | With new law, Illinois joins states making it easier to expunge some juvenile offenses: The Juvenile Court Act, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed into law, will eliminate some of the red tape when people seek to have juvenile offenses expunged from their records. Instead of people having to go to court to seek hearings for expungement, those hearings will be automatically scheduled.
* WAND | New Illinois law will ban landlord retaliation, add protections for tenants: Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Friday to prohibit landlords from retaliating against their tenants. The new law will ban landlords from terminating leases, increasing rent, decreasing services or threatening lawsuits. It also states that landlords can no longer refuse to renew a lease after a tenant complains about code violations or seeks help from elected leaders.
* Sun-Times | DraftKings is taking a big gamble by adding fees in high-tax states such as Illinois: Chicago native Sam Panayotovich, betting analyst for the New England Sports Network and Fox Sports, says there is “no way” he’d shop at a book that taxes triumphs. “They already tax you 10%,” he says of the typical -110 wager, “on the average loss in basketball and football, now they want to take money when you beat the house? That’s BS. No platform or technology is worth that.” Panayotovich knows Chicago “street guys” who are “ecstatic.”
* Tribune | Illinois State Board of Education launches bilingual campaign to recruit teachers amid ongoing shortage: The program, called “The Answer Is Teaching,” will use targeted advertising, digital platforms and partnerships with educational institutions and community groups to recruit potential teachers across Illinois. The campaign’s messaging is centered around the rewards of being a teacher, including testimonials from current teachers also featured on a promotional website. The website includes a form for interested candidates to fill out to begin the process of becoming a teacher.
* Tribune | ‘A movement, not just a moment’: Inside the arduous work of Illinois’ reparations efforts: Illinois was the second state to create such a commission, born out of legislation passed in 2021 amid a national racial reckoning following the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville. But its existence has been somewhat overshadowed by similar efforts elsewhere. Since the commission’s official formation on Jan. 1, 2022, its output has largely centered on educating the public about the commission and on orchestrating a study on possible reasons for reparations. That study began last month and is projected to take more than a year to complete.
* SJ-R | Despite new assault weapons ban, gun sales increased last year in Illinois: Gun sales in Illinois went up 5% in the past year despite a recently enacted ban on assault weapons, according to data compiled by a national home safety and security news site.
* Sun-Times | Pritzkers throwing big Salt Shed party with John Legend on second day of Dem convention: Known for hosting lavish inaugural balls, Gov. JB Pritzker and first lady MK Pritzker are throwing a big party in Chicago with musical guest John Legend on Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention. Invitations to the Salt Shed concert on Aug. 20 were sent Friday. Pritzker, who helped bring the convention to Chicago, along with U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, is also expected to speak at the convention on the same day.
* Sun-Times | An insider guide to the Democratic convention in Chicago with Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi: Krishnamoorthi has emerged as a major national fundraiser. His first bucket is filled with fundraising events. He is a member of the Harris Victory Fund National Finance Committee, and he is also a member of the Harris for President AAPI Leadership Council. Krishnamoorthi was born in India, and he came to the U.S. as a youth. His second bucket is around Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders events and fundraising. Turning out the AAPI voters in the swing states will be critical for Harris, whose father is from Jamaica and mother from India.
* Tribune | DNC cleanup aims to improve Chicago beyond the convention, but also echo 1996 efforts: “You cut the grass, you may plant flowers, you may decide to buy new patio furniture, you may decide to buy a new grill. It doesn’t mean that you weren’t taking care of those things before, but when you decide that you’re going to host … you want to make sure that when your guests show up that they have a wonderful experience,” Chicago Chief Operating Officer John Roberson said in an interview with the Tribune. “And part of that is doing things like painting light poles. Do we paint light poles on a day-to-day basis? Absolutely. But the ability for us to accelerate that type, that level of enhancement and aesthetic in advance of the DNC, just makes our city look more beautiful.”
* Tribune | On eve of DNC, a summit that centers racial equity will bring together elected officials and community leaders: The day before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the Journey for Justice Alliance will convene a summit centering racial equity at Insight Hospital and Medical Center on the Near South Side, where community leaders, elected officials and educators will come together to discuss urban policy reform. “That is our mission and agenda — being in the room with grassroots leaders and progressive mayors from around the country talking about how do we truly uplift Black people in the United States,” said Angel Gober, a 23-year community organizing veteran and executive director of 412 Justice, a grassroots nonprofit in Pittsburgh.
* Sun-Times | Pritzker serves up a cold one, debuts JBeer — two new Chicago craft beers for Democratic convention events: “I think that there’s a lot to see across the city of Chicago and a lot of places to visit. We have some James Beard restaurants, as well as some great hot dog joints that are outside of that circle that you’re talking about, around the convention center, and people want to go check it all out,” Pritzker said. “We’ve got sites to see. Beautiful architecture. You can’t see all of that when you’re just around the United Center.”
* Block Club | Abortion Rights Group Gets Permit To March Downtown During DNC: Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws sued the city after being denied a permit to demonstrate outside the DNC, set for Aug. 19-22. The group intended to protest in support of protecting and strengthening abortion laws and bodily autonomy as well as call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The coalition argued its First and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated by the city’s decision to deny a permit to protest along Michigan Avenue the day before the DNC.
* Tribune | Parking meter deal violation could cost Chicago over $100 million: Chicago Parking Meters, the private company with a monopoly on the city’s paid street parking, filed a lawsuit in April asking the court to enforce an arbitration panel’s ruling that determined the city twice shorted the company under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Experts hired by the city and CPM agree the cost of one of the rulings, over an alleged scheme by the city to take advantage of parking space value fluctuations, could be more than $100 million, according to court records.
* Tribune | Cook County judge who was reassigned amid investigation into alleged racist comments retires: Judge William Hooks, who was appointed in 2008, retired in July, more than a year after he was taken off judicial duties in the wake of an investigation into alleged derogatory remarks made about Middle Eastern men during during a conference in chambers Jan. 17, 2023. During his time as a criminal judge at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Hooks presided over a number of high-profile cases, including the infamous third trial for Jackie Wilson, whose case was critical to unveiling systemic practices of torture at the Chicago Police Department by notorious former Cmdr. Jon Burge and other investigators.
* Tribune | Chicago wrestler Kennedy Blades brings home a silver medal in her Olympic debut: ‘A huge accomplishment’: Chicago’s Kennedy Blades won a silver medal Sunday to finish a remarkable Olympic debut and usher in a new era of U.S. wrestling. Blades, 20, lost to reigning world champion Yuka Kagami of Japan in the 76-kilogram final. The 3-1 defeat marked Blades’ lowest-scoring effort over four matches at the Champ-de-Mars Arena.
* Tribune | Mike Myers of ‘Wayne’s World’ and ‘Austin Powers’ will return to Chicago in October: Mike Myers, a 1988 member of Chicago’s Second City ensemble, returns to town Oct. 19 to collect the 2024 Chicago International Film Festival career achievement award. The writer-performer best known for “Saturday Night Live,” “Wayne’s World” and the “Austin Powers” trilogy will be the subject of “An Evening with Mike Myers.” He’ll be interviewed by friend and fellow Canadian comedy veteran Dave Foley of The Kids in the Hall ensemble and the NBC-TV sitcom “Newsradio.”
* Tribune | Let us now praise famous bluesmen: Buddy Guy is retiring at age 88: Buddy Guy, who just turned 88, will be officially retired from the road by early fall. Only, before that happens, before the Chicago legend slows, a few facts demand context. For one, retirement doesn’t mean he’ll never play again. Just less often. Also, though his current tour is billed as his farewell to the touring life, he could tour again. Who knows? Depends on how he feels. Bluesmen, those around him like to repeat, never really retire. They just don’t do sound-check anymore.
* Patch | GOP Challenger Attacks Incumbent Democrat Over ‘Sweetheart Plea Deal’ For Shorbonia Poole: As the race to become Lake County’s next top prosecutor heats up, first-term Democratic Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart is facing accusations of being soft on crime from Republican challenger Mary Cole over a plea deal with a Round Lake Beach man who now faces murder charges.
* WSPY | Former Kendall Chief Assistant SA Accused of Criminal Battery and Video Recording by States Top Legal Watchdog: Mark A. Shlifka, the former Chief Assistant State’s Attorney of Kendall County, is facing a law license review following allegations of criminal misconduct by the States top Legal Watchdog. The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) has brought forth charges against Shlifka, claiming he committed criminal acts, including unauthorized video recording and battery, during his final year as Kendall County’s Chief Assistant States Attorney.
* Daily Herald | Bears to host stadium focus groups in Schaumburg and downtown Chicago next week: But will fans be asked about their preferences on a location for the new stadium — either the team’s current proposal for a dome on the Chicago lakefront, or the shelved plan at the 326-acre Arlington Park property the NFL franchise owns in Arlington Heights? Bears spokesman Scott Hagel said Friday he didn’t have a list of the specific questions, but said the forums are likely to focus more on amenities that would be found in a stadium in general — no matter its geographic location.
* Daily Herald | For the second time this year, Barrington’s police chief leaving for another suburb: Months after its longtime police chief took over the Elk Grove Village Police Department, Barrington is again seeking a new top cop, as the village is set to lose its chief to another suburb. Lake Forest officials on Friday announced the hiring of John Burke as the city’s new police chief. The city council is scheduled to confirm his appointment at its Sept. 3 meeting.
* ABC Chicago | Lightfoot investigation found some Dolton police officers received staggering overtime pay: Expenses are up nearly 30%, including administration and administration compensation, which are up 47%. One item highlighted was overtime for former Acting Police Chief Lacey, which totaled over $215,000 from 2022 to 2024.
* WCIA | ‘Chemical drift’ depleting crops, Central IL farmers say: Sola Gratia is an Urbana farm using organic production methods to bring locally grown produce to people in the area. But this year, farm manager John Williams said they haven’t produced as much as they expected. […] They figured out herbicide residue was drifting onto their fields, and it wasn’t just affecting leaves. Williams and Barkley said plants weren’t producing as much fruit. “We’re talking about, likely, an event where a product was applied a quarter-mile away or half-a-mile away,” Barkley said
* WCIA | Send-off ceremony to be held this week for U of I Paralympic athletes: While the Summer Games have wrapped up, the Paralympic Games are just 17 days away. Around two dozen students, alums and trainees from the University of Illinois will be heading to Paris. You can send them off this Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. right outside the Disability Resources and Educational Services building on Oak Street.
* Sun-Times | Why would Illinois Democrats knock on doors in Wisconsin? ‘The election is likely to be decided there.’: The volunteers tended to be older, many retirees, while the organizers skew young, like Carter Gulyas, 19, a history major at Illinois State University, and today’s canvass captain. He’s seen a big change since President Biden took himself out of the race. “It’s like turning a new chapter — people are really getting excited,” he said, noting that about 50 people signed up for today, double what it had been previously. “This is going to be our biggest turnout yet.”
* ProPublica | Inside Project 2025’s Secret Training Videos: “Eradicate climate change references”; only talk to conservative media; don’t leave a paper trail for watchdogs to discover. In a series of never-before-published videos, Project 2025 details how a second Trump administration would operate.
* NPR | FDA gives thumbs down to MDMA for now, demanding further research: It represents a significant setback for the company and the broader movement to bring psychedelics into the mainstream of mental health care. […] Many in the psychedelics industry had viewed this as a pivotal moment. The FDA decision on MDMA could be seen as a bellwether for other drugs that are in the pipeline like psilocybin and LSD, which are both considered “classic psychedelics” unlike MDMA.
* Pantagraph | Despite continued losses, Rivian’s second quarter could redefine its future: Between April and June, the automaker announced a second generation of its flagship vehicle model and a partnership with Volkswagen that could ultimately be valued at up to $5 billion. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe called the second quarter a “defining” period for his company.
posted by Isabel Miller
Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 7:40 am
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“Sam Panayotovich” a well known name from the past.
But guessing this ” betting analyst ” may be the next generation . Could ” Play It Again Sam’s ” reopen ?
Comment by Red Ketcher Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 8:37 am
It’s interesting Sheriff Campbell feels:
“The one person truly responsible for this act is in jail. . . .”
Is he not familiar with the concept of respondeat superior?
It sure applied to me anytime one of my employees made a mess of things. I was the one who accepted responsibility.
Comment by Stix Hix Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 9:25 am
Re: NYT story
Good for Attorney General Raoul, addressing implicit gender bias issues within ethnic groups. A strong leader is a strong leader, and he is leading well.
Comment by H-W Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 9:35 am
Re: SJ-R story on “Gun Sales Increase”
I would expect this, as some people wanting to abide by the law start replacing their assault-style weapons. At the same times, those who wish to abide by the law who have not registered their weapons now deemed illegal (unless registered) will need forthcoming opportunities to turn in any unregistered, illegal weapons. I hope community policing agencies and the state police will create regular opportunities to turn-in illegal weapons until we reduce their numbers.
Comment by H-W Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 9:41 am
== next generation ==
Yes, son of “Play It Again Sam’s” Panayotovich. He’s actually a pretty darn good broadcaster and sports handicapper.
And he’s right about the new DraftKings proposed fee. Unless they get every other platform to adopt it, seems like a cut-off-your -nose-to-spite-your-face move.
Comment by Soup Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 9:48 am
“The group intended to protest in support of protecting and strengthening abortion laws and bodily autonomy”
Um, Democrats are pro-women’s rights. Pritzker and DPI are protecting abortion rights. Maybe they should focus their efforts in red state senate races, if they really want change. But they must not, because they are trying to empower MAGA.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 9:55 am
Clean up efforts? Meh. Selected routes, the Loop, and United Center, yes, citywide clean up, no. It’s all about creating a sanitary corridor for delegates.
It is “Potemkin Village” time. Some of the newly repainted bridges in the Loop have not been painted since the last DNC in 1996.
A friend reported to me that similar work was being undertaken near Midway Airport as well. Can’t let the delegates see the urban squalor along Cicero Avenue.
Closer to home there are still people camped out in the parks because the delegates won’t be passing this way.
Comment by Gravitas Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 11:42 am
Urban squalor along Cicero Avenue? I mean, sure parts of it are industrial, for instance along the West Side Industrial corridor–the banners there say Richard M. Daley, I guess he’s the one that inaugurated it. Others are retail strip mall establishments, meh, ugly, but useful structures.
Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 12:44 pm
= Maybe they should focus their efforts in red state senate races =
Oh, we are. We can do multiple things at once.
Comment by Politix Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 12:55 pm
=Why would Illinois Democrats knock on doors in Wisconsin?=
Spotted cow, Mars Cheese Castle, The Brat Stop, Cheap gas….
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 12:56 pm
Sheriff Campbell’s comments continue to be self-serving and show a lack of responsibility in his hiring of an unqualified candidate.
Sean Grayson’s stream of profanity on the video towards a clearly fragile individual indicates that Grayson is a bully and a menace.
That Sheriff Campbell hired him in spite of Grayson’s questionable military service and spotty employment record reflects back to Sheriff Campbell’s judgment.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 1:28 pm
From the SJR story: “… formula that counts each check for handguns and long firearms as worth 1.1 purchases and each multiple-gun verification as worth two purchases …”
I think they may be over counting actual sales. Last 2 times I bought a firearm, my local dealer actually ran 2 checks per gun; one when I purchased it and a second one the day I picked it up after the required waiting period. So using the cited methodology, they counted 2.2 sales for 1 purchase.
As to sales during that period, I can only speak for myself. The one purchase was for a suitable compact concealed carry firearm … something I had never considered purchasing prior, since I primarily had just target handguns.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 2:16 pm
“…the sheriff said the “current political climate has made it nearly impossible” for him to continue effectively in his role and that some individuals would rather see the community divided and in turmoil.” I’m surprised he didn’t blame his problems on “outside agitators” like the Governors of Mississippi and Alabama circa 1962. Frankly I’m surprised Campbell resigned.
Total props to the Sangamon county board members who took a stand on this, and an honorable mention to JB for speaking out. Now only 100 other county Sheriff’s departments that need scrutiny…
Comment by Payback Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 5:16 pm
I watched the Grayson jail video. The jailers treated him like he was the victim and when he said get out because of the Safe-T Act, a jailer mmm-hmmm’d in agreement.
Culture of toxicity.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Monday, Aug 12, 24 @ 5:28 pm