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* Tribune | Democrats file another election complaint against Dan Proft’s political operation, alleging $1.2 million in undisclosed contributions: Proft’s independent expenditure PAC, People Who Play By The Rules, was almost entirely funded by ultraconservative billionaire megadonor Richard Uihlein. The PAC spent tens of millions of dollars in an unsuccessful effort to boost conservative GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey, who was defeated by progressive billionaire Gov. J.B. Pritzker 55% to 42% in November.
* WBBM | Illinois cannot afford both institutional living and home-based services, disability advocates say: “Despite the resources that had been put into the facility—despite staff training, all the different types of things that might be in the toolbox to try to make things better—still, the same kind of findings are occurring today as occurred almost 20 years ago now,” Aschemann said. Pritzker alluded to those findings in his March 8 announcement that Choate would be “repurposed” over the next three years. The plan included giving a majority of the 225 Choate residents the opportunity to transition into community-based settings or other state-run centers.
* Capitol News Illinois | Pritzker touts higher education plan, joins call for pharmacies to state abortion pill plans: “With an additional $100 million directed to the (Monetary Award Program) grant program, a student can pair our state support with a federal Pell grant and pay for college with no loans and debt required,” Pritzker said at the news conference at Heartland Community College.
* Center Square | No-cash bail ‘more fair,’ Pritzker says; opponents worry recidivism would increase: During oral arguments in front of the Illinois Supreme Court Tuesday, Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe raised concern that sheriffs will have to double the number of instances of deputy contacts with potentially dangerous criminals. “Fascinating to listen to both sides,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in Normal Tuesday afternoon.
* Sun-Times | Video poker in Chicago? Vallas and Johnson say deal us in: Under state law, local governments can prohibit video gambling machines from operating at restaurants or bars within their city limits. But both mayoral candidates favor lifting Chicago’s longstanding ban on the machines.
* Daily Southtown | Third airport plan gains traction, but skeptics seek commitment from cargo carriers:
“If my presentation were a newspaper, the headline might read, ‘South Suburban Airport has its best week in at least eight years,’” congressional aide Rick Bryant said Tuesday during a lunchtime teleconference with Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce members.
* WTTW | Lawmakers, Organizers Want to Force Lakefront Power Plant Owner to Clean Up Coal Ash Byproduct: For years, she and other organizers fought to get the power plant in Waukegan closed. Now, they’re fighting to get the company to clean up all the coal ash left behind. “They want to remove the coal ash from one of the ponds and they want to leave one, to cap it in place,” Ortiz said. “I feel like it’s kind of like leaving a ticking time bomb there.”
* Tribune | City Council committee OKs pro-union ordinance aimed at Chicago nonprofits despite opposition: The measure, dubbed a “labor peace agreement,” passed a City Council committee and will go for a vote before the full City Council on Wednesday. The once-dormant proposal has been in the works for three years and found new life in an election year that would strengthen the labor rights of those who work for organizations that serve the city within the public health and family and support sectors.
* Tribune | Defund the police or take their handcuffs off? Paul Vallas, Brandon Johnson deny controversial statements at public safety forum: Asked about his previous support for the “defund the police” movement — including a declaration that it isn’t a slogan but a “real political goal” — Johnson said, “I said it was a political goal. I never said it was mine.”
* Chalkbeat | How former teacher Brandon Johnson organized his way to the doorstep of Chicago City Hall: “A few months ago, they said they didn’t know who I was,” Johnson told a crowd of supporters when he made it to the mayoral runoff election on Feb. 28. “Well, if you didn’t know, now you know.”
* Tribune | ‘The hardest position to fill’: Finding a new Chicago police superintendent amid mayoral transition and crime uptick may be no easy feat: The end of David Brown’s nearly three-year tenure as the Chicago Police Department’s leader comes at a pivotal time: The city is in the midst of a heated mayoral runoff between candidates offering contrasting takes on policing; CPD still grapples with diminished morale, shrinking ranks and a recent spike in violent crime; and calls for accountability that started before the death of George Floyd remain strong.
* Crain’s | Portillo’s in Texas? Chicago food favorites are finding new fans nationwide: One of Chicago’s most beloved brands and a heavy hitter in the city’s street food scene, Portillo’s first launched nearly 60 years ago as a hot dog stand in Villa Park. It has since established a strong presence outside of Illinois with more than 70 locations in 10 states, including California, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin. A pre-IPO filing from 2021 said that the Oak Brook-based company believes it could grow to more than 600 restaurants in the U.S. in 25 years, and the company has said most new locations this year will be in Texas, Florida and Arizona.
* Sun-Times | The curiosities of a freak crappie caught in northern Illinois: Kyle Tepper caught a freak crappie in the Chain O’Lakes area that looks like something from far southern Illinois or Mississippi. The catch gives the chance to splash around the oddities of crappies in Illinois.
* WGN | Bears’ David Montgomery signing with NFC North rival Lions, report says: The deal is reportedly worth $18 million over three years. Mongtomery signing with the Lions means the running back will face off against the Chicago Bears twice a year, with an annual return to Soldier Field.
* NYT | Sold: Yacht With a Waterfall. Price: $19 Million. Broker: George Santos.: Just before his House election, Mr. Santos helped two of his largest donors reach a private deal on a $19 million boat, mixing his political and personal interests.
posted by Isabel Miller
Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 6:34 am
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IL Attorney General Kwame Raoul endorses Brandon Johnson for Mayor. This is timely given that early voting starts Monday. Congressman Garcia might wish to add his endorsement to Johnson soon in order to remain relevant.
Comment by Corruption Committee Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 8:05 am
Another Credit Rating hike and another opportunity for IPI/Center Square to clutch their pearls and say it isn’t so!
Comment by Annon3 Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 8:21 am
Reading about fishing for crappie reminds me of my Dad, who tried valiantly to get me to be a fisherman. Never cared for fishing but loved having time with him.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 8:40 am
It seems as though even with care provided in neighborhoods that you would still need places like Choate as a backstop. What happens when all the people that cared about the person die or move away?
Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 9:34 am
The case before the Supreme court confused me because they were supposed to be arguing that the constitution said that defendants were to be offered bail, but then all the arguments were about public safety and the needs of law enforcement. There seemed to be a disconnect between the pretext and the arguments.
Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 9:36 am
===Democrats file another election complaint against Dan Proft’s political operation, alleging $1.2 million in undisclosed contributions===
Floridian Dan Proft will see this at worst a “cost of doing business” and must mockingly be “troll concerned” for himself, as Proft already “lost” tens of thousands of dollars in his old committee… what did he face for that?
I get it. It’s worth the time. It’s worth going after Proft, no matter the outcome… but when does Proft grift off the “prosecution”?
“Hopefully” for Proft he made his multiple millions, keeps his radio gig, and can lightly tread on a grift to pay for greens fees and cigars.
Of course, personal integrity lost is also a cost of doing all this, but the checks cash the same
The only real question I have… is Uihlein still a Mark, or did both Uihleins learn anything… “this time”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 9:37 am
-Floridian Dan Proft-
Give Proft some credit. When you go from paying 4.95% state income tax to zero… it’s a pretty good trade for many. That’s a lot more disposable income for some.
Comment by Steve Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 10:13 am
===Give Proft some credit.===
No.
I’ll say you’re a fool to envy someone’s tax rate when *you* can just as easily move.
It’s not like you’re voting to change things here, amirite?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 10:18 am
I don’t envy the next police chief. Mayoral transition, community with significant mental health issues, a force with some undisciplined officers on it, a strong union with a sometimes clownish spokesperson, social media that can aggravate social problems that can spill over into police matters, and the first time a non-combattant is killed or injured by police there will be an outcry.
Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 10:22 am
==There seemed to be a disconnect between the pretext and the arguments.==
Because the case was always more about politics than the law.
Comment by Big Dipper Wednesday, Mar 15, 23 @ 11:11 am