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* ICYMI: Johnson extends shelter stays for migrants for third time. Crain’s…
* Related stories…
* Isabel’s top picks…
* Sun-Times | Madigan’s ex-chief of staff should get up to 5 years in prison for lies ‘calculated to thwart’ probe into former boss, feds say: [Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Schwartz] also wrote that Mapes “still refuses to accept responsibility” and “instead blames the government” for not giving him enough information when he appeared before the grand jury.
* Daily Southtown | As Kankakee River water levels decrease after ice jam flash flooding, Will County assesses damage: It was the third-highest level recorded on the Kankakee River and the highest since 1887, according to the Will County Emergency Management Agency. On Sunday morning, water levels were recorded at 5.7 feet. Though the flood warnings have expired, local officials are still monitoring water levels and have advised residents that river conditions can change rapidly.
* CNI | Panel of experts suggest legislative measures to reverse journalism decline: Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, said he plans to introduce a bill this session including some of the task force’s suggestions. The policies recommended by the task force are a mix of strategies intended to increase funding, mitigate high operational costs and keep newsrooms local. Many of the recommendations have been implemented or introduced in other states.
At 9 am Governor Pritzker will announce the National Science Foundation grant award. Click here to watch.
* Here’s the rest of your morning roundup…
* STL Today | Holleman: To get things done, Illinois’ Nikki Budzinski says she ignores ‘political noise’: Nikki Budzinski didn’t arrive on time for an interview. In fact, she was early. Should Budzinski, a Democrat who just finished her first year representing part of the Metro East area in the U.S. House, be aiming to position herself as unique among politicians, punctuality is a solid start.
* WTTW | Rep. Delia Ramirez on Immigration Policy, Congressional Conflict Over Bipartisan Border Deal: Ramirez: I have felt the urgency to pass immigration reform since the moment my mother crossed the Rio Grande pregnant with me. This isn’t simply an election-year issue to our immigrant communities, it is a 365/24/7 issue. I’ve presented 17 ideas to my colleagues about how we could take concrete action to reform our immigration system rather than waste time and congressional resources on baseless impeachment.
* Sun-Times | Brent Manning, former director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, dies at age 70: John Schmitt, the first executive director of the Illinois Conservation Foundation, rattled off an impressive list of accomplishments during Mr. Manning’s time as director: “Conservation Congress, Habitat Stamp, Conservation Reserve Plan, the additions of [Jim Edgar/Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area] and other sites, the World Shooting site Downstate, Illinois Conservation Foundation that I worked for Brent and we raised over $16 million for the IDNR, new IDNR headquarters … the list goes on and on…He was an outstanding mentor and friend.”
* Tribune | Support staff at Crystal Lake D47 file unfair labor practice charge after district hires staffing firm: Crystal Lake Association of Support Staff, or CLASS, the union representing Chaix and more than 100 paraprofessionals across 12 schools in District 47, filed an unfair labor practice charge with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board in October after district administrators retained a recruiting firm to hire temporary employees. The union said the move was made illegally and without giving them notice.
* STL Today | Miscommunication between lawyer, police caused fugitive label for former Town and Country cop: The issues with Fowle’s arrest began when, in an unusual move, before Fowle was in custody, Lozano filed a motion to reduce Fowle’s bond. A hearing was scheduled and approved by a judge even though Fowle had not surrendered. “The timing was just not good,” Lozano said Monday. “Which was my fault. I was out of state … so I scheduled with the court a bond hearing for this morning.”
* The Center Square | Illinois partners with Google for AI-driven child behavioral health portal: Gov. J.B. Pritzker was at Google Chicago Monday to announce the creation of BEACON, or the Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation, a service access portal for Illinois families to access behavioral and mental health resources for children. The plan will incorporate artificial intelligence and create an online portal that provides families with access to behavioral and mental health resources.
* Sun-Times | Cook County treasurer mails nearly 2 million first installment property tax bills: Property taxes are mailed twice a year in Cook County. This first installment is equal to 55% of last year’s total. Residents wanting to use exemptions, which reduce their total property taxes, can apply those to the second installment.
* WBEZ | Illinois election officials are ramping up efforts to recruit election judges for March primary: “We need help, real help, to prop up democracy. Because if we don’t get the election judges there, it allows these other factors to win,” Ed Michalowski, the Cook County deputy clerk of elections said. “When good people could serve as election judges, and they don’t, it allows for some of that negativity to creep in, and some of those false statements and some of those false expressions on the internet.”
* Decatur Tribune | FOP State Lodge endorses Regan Deering in race for 88th District Illinois House: “Regan Deering listens to the concerns of the law enforcement officers who protect our communities, and will fight for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to keep our citizens safe,” said Illinois FOP State Lodge President Chris Southwood. “Regan feels that it’s the heroes in blue, and not the perpetrators in the shadows, that should be backed by state government, and that is why she has our support in this election.”
* Sun-Times | Formula One in Chicago? Series applies for race trademarks: There is some indication the city has held initial talks with F1 about a possible Chicago race, downtown Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) says. “I’m told that F1 typically requires a 10-year minimum deal. And that appears to be non-negotiable. The conversation [with the city] did not get much past that,” Hopkins said.
* Crain’s | Baseball commish gives thumbs-up to ‘game changer’ Sox stadium plan: Manfred said what’s particularly solid about the proposal is the “proximity to downtown” it would bring a team that now plays several miles to the south in a neighborhood that pretty much shuts down after dark. “Baseball has always worked well close to downtown,” which offers not only other entertainment options but good transit and highway access.
* Sun-Times | State Street Macy’s shutters basement candy department — but vows ‘we will always sell Frango’s chocolates’: Now one floor above, there’s a new in-store bulk candy shop called It’Sugar, which opened in November last year. It’Sugar also has locations on the Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier. The store offers an array of sugary treats, including vintage candies, giant gummy bears and Japanese sodas, said Megan Peterson, a supervisor at It’Sugar.
* Crain’s | Weed sales boom in Dry January as people drink less: Revenues at Curaleaf, Green Thumb Industries Inc., Verano Holdings Corp., Tilray and Canopy Growth Corp. are set to grow about 6% on average in the first quarter. At the state level, Oregon’s cannabis sales have jumped 19% on average in January since 2018 versus 12% on average in other months. In Colorado, cannabis sales grow the fastest in January on average.
posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 7:40 am
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The MLB commissioner’s endorsement of a new Sox stadium is the least surprising news of the day.
That Crain’s story reports the TIF previously planned for “The 78” has funding “to move Metra tracks from the center to the side of the property along Clark Street south of Roosevelt Road.”
Not sure that’s right. As all Metra-Rock Island commuters can attest, those tracks are currently on the side of the property along Clark Street.
Comment by Dog Bites Man Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 8:14 am
F1 would be a better fit than NASCAR for Chicago, I think. 10 years is a big commitment, especially for the amount of time that streets would be closed off. F1 does draw a more international audience and displays Chicago as a world-class city, so that’s something.
Comment by Former ILSIP Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 8:24 am
incoming BIPA clone bills in Vermont and Colorado. Also hearing other states have similar draft bills in various states of completion/plausibility
Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 9:08 am
Good news for asylum seekers : nothing is so permanent as a temporary reprieve from government.
Comment by Steve Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 9:10 am
Mapes must “not recall’ any of the power driven, bully tactics routinely employed in service to the Speaker. Might need a memory drug… looks to be a recurring problem.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 9:29 am
“However, Mapes’ lawyers … asking for a sentence of time served…the last five years have constituted a half decade of misery for Tim and his family.”
The dude has been at home with his family collecting a $150,000 pension and he wants that to be considered “time served”. Unbelievable.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 9:36 am
Interesting that Frango mints were originally Franco mints but when the Spanish dictator appeared on the scene the name was changed.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 10:39 am
Manfred has obviously never been to the South Loop after dark, it shuts down just as early if not earlier than Bridgeport in my experience (lived there 3 years as a college student who very much wanted to go out after dark)
Comment by wowie Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 10:46 am
There is a longstanding, family friendly community in the South Loop. Most of those residents were there long before the neighborhood became trendy as is now.
How would the White Sox project impact them?
Comment by low level Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 11:12 am
==As all Metra-Rock Island commuters can attest, those tracks are currently on the side of the property along Clark Street.==
It is clearly laid out in the TIF District Programming document (link below). Page 173 shows they have allotted $75 million for the Metra track realignment.
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dcd/tif/projections/TIF_District_Programming_2022_2026.pdf
Comment by supplied_demand Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 11:27 am
==How would the White Sox project impact them? ==
Lakeview (Wrigleyville) is one of the most family-friendly parts of the city. Recent renovations at Wrigley have made it even more family-friendly. It would also likely help their property value tremendously.
Comment by supplied_demand Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 11:30 am
Mapes would be better served accepting the verdict and showing remorse. Denial and playing the victim will not help him at all, and may well have the opposite effect. Maybe he can’t recall that lying to the feds is against the law.
Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 11:45 am
Then we have the problem of the Reinsdorf family who last won a championship almost 20 years between the White Sox and Bulls. By his own admission he messed up the current stadium. Hiring
LaRussa to return was a complete flop.
We trust Reinsdorf to get it right this time? Why do we keep rewarding his failures?
Comment by low level Tuesday, Jan 30, 24 @ 12:27 pm