The Capitol Fax Blog

• Reader comments closed for the weekend September 20, 2019
  * Let’s go… She’s a frozen fire, she’s my one desire
• *** UPDATED x3 - Pritzker, Curran, Durkin respond *** IEPA issues construction permit to Sterigenics September 20, 2019
  * Press release… Following legislation passed by the General Assembly to impose the nation’s strongest controls on ethylene oxide emissions, the Illinois EPA has issued a construction permit to Sterigenics U.S., LLC. The permit is the first step in a lengthy process and allows the company to begin construction necessary to ensure the facility complies with [ […]
• *** UPDATED x1 - AFSCME responds *** Janus files union dues refund appeal September 20, 2019
  * Center Square… The former state of Illinois employee who successfully challenged the payment of forced union dues by public workers was back in federal court Friday to ask a judge to force his former union to return about $3,000 in dues he paid while working for the state in a case that could have wider [...]
• *** UPDATED x1 - “Terminated” by Pritzker administration *** Staff shakeup continues at ALPLM September 20, 2019
  * Staff memo from Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Chief of Staff Melissa Coultas… Please be aware that Alan Lowe is no longer in the service of the State of Illinois. I will remain in close contact with the Governor’s Office until a new Executive Director is identified. In the interim, all issues that [...]
• Today’s number: 37 percent September 20, 2019
  * Joe Bustos at the BND… In Illinois, when people have their firearms owners identification cards revoked, they’re supposed to turn them in to law enforcement and surrender their guns. But that only happened less than half of the time in the metro-east and statewide during the last four years. In St. Clair County, FOID cards were [...]
• Question of the day September 20, 2019
  * Kankakee Daily Journal… A Bourbonnais man was arrested by Bourbonnais Police for burglaries to six unlocked vehicles parked outside Wednesday. […] Thefts to unlocked vehicles occur weekly, according to law enforcement officials. Back in April, Bourbonnais officers arrested a man who took a total of $470 in cash from 10 unlocked vehicles. * Tribune… Police […]
• Breaking news! September 20, 2019
  * Lobbyist for previously monopolistic legacy casinos really, really, really doesn’t like video gaming, new casino expansion… Illinois has not been necessarily a gambling industry-friendly state. You never know what the hell is going to happen. You know, we’ve been [fighting expansion for] 15, 20 years, and it finally got done. But you [...]
• Rate James Marter’s new campaign video September 20, 2019
  * James Marter of Oswego has announced he’s running for Congress against US Rep. Lauren Underwood. First, though, he has to win a Republican primary against a host of opponents [fixed reference]. Illinois Review posted his kickoff video, and I thought you might want to rate it… Marter got thumped by US Rep. Adam [...]
• The birds are dying September 20, 2019
  * Vox… One of the great environmental crises today — and there are many — is the loss of biodiversity on planet Earth. Human actions have lead to an extinction rate higher than anything seen on Earth in the last 10 million years, as a sweeping UN report recently explained. It’s estimated the average vertebrate (bird, [...]
• Wait. What? The Tribune wants downtown cannabis sales September 20, 2019
  * Ladies and gentleman, the Chicago Tribune… This week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot proposed that marijuana dispensaries be allocated throughout the city, except not in downtown. In explaining her decision, Lightfoot said she wants to keep the center of Chicago “family friendly.” The mayor also wants to assure that entrepreneurs from communities throughout the city […]