Emmylou Harris, Graham Nash – Sunday July 26
“Tickets for Ravinia Festival’s 2026 season are now on sale! With the highly anticipated opening of the new Hunter Pavilion, 50+ artist debuts, and 90+ concerts, this summer at Ravinia is shaping up to be one of our most exciting seasons yet!
Don’t miss your chance to grab tickets for all of the summer’s hottest events! Tickets are going fast, so head on over to ravinia.org and get your tickets before it’s too late!”
Posted in Entertainment | Leave a Comment »
By Bryce Hill | Illinois Policy Institute
Illinois lost a larger share of income from outmigration than any other state in 2023, according to IRS data.
Federal tax returns show that Illinois lost a net of nearly 56,000 residents and more than $6 billion in income in 2023, the latest data available. When adjusting for total income per state, Illinois’ losses to net outmigration are the worst in the country — more than $11 for every $1,000 previously earned in the state.
While California ($13 billion) and New York ($10.6 billion) lost more income from outmigration, Illinois lost the largest share of a state total.
Meanwhile, South Carolina and Florida, two of the top three states adding the most total income from people moving in, also added the most as a share of their total income.
Part of why Illinois sees so much wealth flight is that high-income Illinoisans are leaving at twice the rate of other groups. People in all income brackets are moving out of the state, but those earning more than $200,000 a year have been leaving the fastest.
Article continues here.
Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Dumb and Dumber, Economy, FUBAR, Illinois Policy Institute, Mad Cows, New Normal?, Pension Funding, Politics, Taxes | Leave a Comment »
Spring foliage covers the grounds of the former Arlington International Racecourse, April 21, 2026, in Arlington Heights. The vacant land is the possible future site of a new stadium for the Chicago Bears. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
By Jeremy Gorner | Chicago Tribune
The Democratic-run Illinois House on Wednesday passed the latest proposal to help the Chicago Bears build a new stadium in Arlington Heights as lawmakers now look to the Senate to gather enough support to keep the team from relocating to Indiana.
The bill spearheaded by state Rep. Kam Buckner of Chicago, who has led House Democrats’ stadium negotiations, passed 78-32. Only a few Democrats opposed the measure, while some Republicans voted for the plan.
“My friends on the other side of the aisle and the governor certainly cannot afford for the Bears to leave the state of Illinois, and more time will cause greater expense,” Republican state Rep. Martin McLaughlin of Barrington Hills, who voted in favor of the bill, said late Wednesday during the House debate. “Let’s face it, guys, it’s going to happen, and the longer we wait, I can’t watch billions of dollars more in incentives be thrown away.”
The latest bill altered Buckner’s earlier proposal for how special property taxes on the Bears and other developers of so-called megaprojects would be divvied up, a move aimed at sweetening a bill viewed as a favor to the Bears by promoting property tax relief for Illinoisans.
Scott Hagel, a spokesperson for the Bears, issued a statement after the bill’s passage Wednesday night that the team welcomes “the progress made on the House’s version of the (megaproject) bill; however, additional amendments are necessary to make the Arlington Heights site feasible for our stadium project.”
“We support Illinois leaders as they determine the path forward to making the essential changes to the (megaproject) bill and aligning on infrastructure funding,” the statement said.
Article continues here.
Posted in Chicago Tribune, Elections, Fools and their money, Overhead, Politics, Property Taxes, Springfield, Unions | Leave a Comment »
More than two months ago we posted, “Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control.” Shortly thereafter, local community leaders almost universally voiced their opposition to Pritzker’s plan to diminish local control and property values via his “BUILD,” plans.
Needless to say, we were dumbfounded when an email was forwarded to us with the subject line, “Call For Action: Support the BUILD Plan to Increase Inventory.” That message was sent by, “North Shore-Barrington Association of Realtors (NSBAR).” Since most recognize the reputation (many) realtors have, suffice it to say consider the source as we continue…
The NSBAR message begins with, “Please contact your legislator and tell them to support the BUILD Plan to increase housing inventory and ease housing costs for Illinois families.” State Rep. Martin McLaughlin has not been shy in voicing his opposition to Pritzker’s land grab plans stating, “It’s just a bad idea.”
The NSBAR pitch states the BUILD plan will, “Eliminate local housing bans.” One does not need to read further, but those wishing to can do so here.
All we can advise is when buying or selling a home, choose your representative and attorney wisely.
Related: “Village of Barrington President shares perspectives on Pritzker’s BUILD plans,” “(Ignoring public opinion) Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers,” “Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious housing plan for Illinois: More four-flats, looser rules,” “Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control,” “McLaughlin’s press conference video recording regarding Pritzker’s proposed municipal zoning powers grab posted,” “‘It’s just a bad idea’: Suburban officials oppose Pritzker’s plan to reduce local control over residential It’s just zoning”
Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Ethics, Fools and their money, Immigration, Land Disconnection, Land Use, OP/Ed, Organizations, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Springfield, Unions, Zoning Board | 2 Comments »
On Monday May 18, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., a meeting conducted by Barrington Community Unit School District 220 will take place at 515 West Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the district’s plan for providing Special Education services to students with disabilities who attend private schools and home schools within the District for the 2026-2027 school year.
If you are a parent of a home-schooled student or a parentally placed private school student who has been or may be identified with a disability and you reside within the boundaries of Barrington Community Unit School District 220, you are urged to attend. If you have further questions pertaining to this meeting, please contact Nicole Kozeneski at (847) 844-4225.
Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Property Taxes, School Districts, Unions | Leave a Comment »
A 10-year-old Goldendoodle, named Maya, died and a Lake Forest family blames Blue Buffalo’s dog food with leading to her death. They have since filed a class action lawsuit in federal court. | Provided Photos
By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner
A Lake County family has filed a class action lawsuit against Blue Buffalo Company alleging that their dog died from a serious heart disease linked to grain-free dog food that the company sold.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by The G Law Group, along with co-counsel Florek Law, on behalf of plaintiffs Ryan Walsh and Diana Walsh, of Lake Forest.
The suit alleges Blue Buffalo’s grain-free products have repeatedly been linked in scientific studies and FDA investigations to diet-related dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and other adverse cardiac conditions in dogs.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, often leading to heart failure and death.
The lawsuit complaint references multiple complaints to the FDA regarding the link, as well as research showing that grain-free diets, such as those containing peas, can interfere with taurine absorption.
Taurine is an amino acid that is essential for myocardial health. The plaintiffs’ attorneys say research shows that dogs’ heart function improved after switching from grain-free to grain-inclusive diets and receiving taurine supplementation.
The lawsuit said Blue Buffalo continued to market its products as “the healthiest food possible” made with “the finest natural ingredients” despite thousands of FDA complaints and research linking grain-free dog food to DCM.
Article continues here.
Posted in Animal Welfare, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, Topics Of Interest | Leave a Comment »
A net of nearly 56,000 people and $6 billion in income left the state in 2023, according to IRS data.
By Bryce Hill | Illinois Policy Institute
Illinoisans who leave take a lot of money with them.
Federal tax returns show the state lost 55,609 people and $6 billion in adjusted gross income on net in 2023, the most recent IRS data available.
Most of those people were high-income. While people of all income levels left Illinois in 2023, the heaviest loss was among those making more than $100,000 a year. They made up 60% of the state’s net migration losses.
The economic impact of those departures is even greater: Filers making more than $100,000 took more than $5.5 billion with them — 90% of the state’s income loss.
Illinois lost residents to 38 states and the District of Columbia in 2023. By far the largest share of individuals and income was lost to Florida, which gained 10,583 residents and $2.4 billion in income from Illinois.
Texas was No. 2, adding 7,795 residents and $488 million in income from Illinois.
Article continues here.
Posted in Commodius Maximus, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fat Bastard, Illinois Policy Institute, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Taxes | Leave a Comment »
The District 220 Board of Education meets this evening at 6:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Items on their agenda include:
A copy of the agenda can be viewed here. The meeting will be live streamed on the district YouTube channel.
Related: “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency”
Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Open Meetings Act, Overhead, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? | Leave a Comment »
The lease on the BCFPD fire station adjacent to Village Hall is being reviewed according to their agenda. | Courtesy Google maps
The Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District (BCFPD) Board of Trustees meets this evening at 6:30 PM at 22222 N. Pepper Road in Lake Barrington. Topics on their agenda include:
A copy of their agenda can be viewed here.
Posted in Agendas, BCFPD, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Jewel-Osco, Open Meetings Act, Overhead, Pension Funding, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD | Leave a Comment »
An analysis by WIRED and Indicator found nearly 90 schools and 600 students around the world impacted by AI-generated deepfake nude images—and the problem shows no signs of going away. | PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION: WIRED STAFF; GETTY IMAGES
By Matt Burgess | WIRED
It usually starts with a photo downloaded from social media.
Around the world, teenage boys are saving Instagram and Snapchat images of girls they know from school and using harmful “nudify” apps to create fake nude photos or videos of them. These deepfakes can quickly be shared across whole schools, leaving victims feeling humiliated, violated, hopeless, and scared the images will haunt them forever.
The deepfake crisis hitting schools started slowly a couple of years ago, but it has since grown considerably as the technology used to create the explicit imagery has become more accessible. Deepfake sexual abuse incidents have hit around 90 schools globally and have impacted more than 600 pupils, according to a review of publicly reported incidents by WIRED and Indicator, a publication focusing on digital deception and misinformation.
The findings show that since 2023, schoolchildren—most often boys in high schools—in at least 28 countries have been accused of using generative AI to target their classmates with sexualized deepfakes. The explicit imagery, containing minors, is considered to be child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This analysis is believed to be the first to review real-world cases of AI deepfake abuse taking place at schools globally.
As a whole, the analysis shows the worldwide reach of harmful AI nudification technology, which can earn their creators millions of dollars per year, and shows that in many incidents, schools and law enforcement officials are often not prepared to respond to the serious sexual abuse incidents.
Article continues here.
Posted in AI, Big Brother, Deception, Education, Ethics, News Media, Privacy, School Districts, TMI, Topics Of Interest, WIRED | Leave a Comment »
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