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Naturalists, botanists and restoration volunteers spotlight Grigsby Prairie in Barrington Hills

Posted in Chicago Tribune, Citizens for Conservation, Going green, Land Use, Privacy, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, Topics Of Interest on July 22, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Far right, leading a tour group is volunteer and CFC board member Jim Vanderpoel of Arlington Heights on July 20, 2026 at the restored tallgrass Grigsby Prairie in Barrington Hills, managed by the volunteer group (CFC) Citizens for Conservation of Barrington. | Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press

By Karie Angell Luc | For the Chicago Tribune

As environmentalists from around the world convened at the Aspen Ideas: Climate event in Chicago from July 20 to July 22, the conversation about conservation moved to Barrington Hills on July 20.

There, local and national conservationists toured the 44-acre Grigsby Prairie in Barrington Hills, managed by the volunteer group (CFC) Citizens for Conservation of Barrington.

Describing Indian Hemp, a native white flowering plant to a tour group, is volunteer and CFC board member Jim Vanderpoel of Arlington Heights on July 20, 2026 at the restored tallgrass Grigsby Prairie in Barrington Hills, managed by the volunteer group (CFC) Citizens for Conservation of Barrington. | Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press

CFC is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization that restores and maintains more than 732 acres across 14 separate nearby locations, according to https://citizensforconservation.org.

“CFC first started with response to a lot of land development that was happening in the seventies, so they came to be in 1971,” said Abigail Derby Lewis of Glenview, CFC executive director.

Grigsby Prairie is “the oldest prairie restoration that CFC has and one of the oldest in the State of Illinois,” Derby Lewis said. “It is incredible.

“Every plant you see, every animal you see, all of the habitat there, that is the result of people putting in the time and the energy and the love to that land over decades,” Derby Lewis said.

CFC volunteer Wendy Paulson of Barrington Hills said of Grigsby Prairie (a prairie which was lost), “That’s an example of hope.”

The walk of the tallgrass prairie included tour leader and CFC board member Jim Vanderpoel of Arlington Heights, Dwayne Estes of Dickson, Tennessee, co-founder and executive director of the Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) of Clarksville, Tennessee, and a professor at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.

SGI is building a movement,” according to https://www.segrasslands.org.

Right, leading a tour group is volunteer and CFC board member Jim Vanderpoel of Arlington Heights on July 20, 2026 at the restored tallgrass Grigsby Prairie in Barrington Hills, managed by the volunteer group (CFC) Citizens for Conservation of Barrington. | Karie Angell Luc/Pioneer Press

Also interpreting Grigsby Prairie on the tour were Derby Lewis, Paulson, plus author and renowned forest preserves site steward Stephen Packard of Northbrook.

Many experts identify prairie grasslands as the most threatened ecosystem in eastern North America, with scattered acres, islands and pockets around the United States unattended to and basically forgotten.

Article and photos  continue here.

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CUSD 220 Board of Education meets Thursday

Posted in 220, Agendas, Animal Welfare, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Clown Car, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Mad Cows, Pension Funding, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, Transparency, Unions, Video Streaming, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on July 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »

CUSD 220 Board President Sandra Ficke-Bradford, Vice President Barry Altshuler and member Leah Collister-Lazzari.

The District 220 Board of Education meets Thursday evening at 6:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Items on their agenda include:

  • FOIA Reports
  • Personnel Report
  • Salem United Methodist Church Parking Agreement
  • Consideration to Approve Declaring Property Surplus and Authorizing its Sale or Disposal
  • Consideration to Approve Written Decision Regarding Uniform Grievance Procedure Complaint Concerning Barry Altshuler
  • Consideration to Approve Written Decision Regarding Uniform Grievance Procedure Complaint Concerning Sandra Bradford
  • Consideration to Approve Written Decision Regarding Uniform Grievance Procedure Complaint Concerning Leah Collister-Lazzari
  • Consideration to Approve the Public Release of the July 17, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and Findings
  • First Reading of Board Policy, 2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure

A copy of the agenda can be viewed here. The meeting will be live streamed on the district YouTube channel.

Related: “CUSD 220 Board delivers second (slappier) slap on the wrist to member Erin Chan Ding,” “CUSD 220 Board of Education public comments we applaud,” “Special District 220 Board of Education meeting Monday,” “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” and “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’”

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PAWS CHICAGO BREAKS GROUND ON “RESCUE RANCH,” A TRANSFORMATIVE NEW HAVEN FOR HOMELESS PETS IN CHICAGO’S NORTHWEST SUBURBS

Posted in Animal Welfare, PAWS Chicago, Press Release on July 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »

20-Acre Hawthorn Woods Facility Will Expand Lifesaving Efforts for Large Dogs, Cats, and Spay/Neuter Services Across Chicagoland

July 20, 2026 (HAWTHORN WOODS, Ill.) – PAWS Chicago, the Midwest’s largest No Kill animal welfare organization, celebrated a major milestone on Sunday, July 19, breaking ground on the PAWS Chicago Rescue Ranch, a transformative 20-acre state-of-the-art facility that will expand its lifesaving work for homeless and at-risk pets throughout Chicagoland.

Set to open in 2027, the PAWS Chicago Rescue Ranch will become a first-of-its-kind destination focused on the rescue, rehabilitation, enrichment, and adoption of large dogs and cats, the animals most at risk of euthanasia throughout the region. The facility will also include the Forsythe Veterinary Medical Center, a high-volume spay/neuter clinic, that will expand access to affordable and free spay/neuter services based on financial need while helping prevent pet overpopulation.

Community leaders, supporters, donors, volunteers, and animal advocates gathered to commemorate the groundbreaking and celebrate the next chapter in PAWS Chicago’s nearly three-decade mission to build a No Kill Chicagoland.

“The PAWS Chicago Rescue Ranch represents the future of animal welfare,” said Paula Fasseas, Founder and Executive Chair of PAWS Chicago. “Every aspect of this campus has been thoughtfully designed around what animals need to heal, thrive, and ultimately find loving homes. By creating more space, expanding access to adopters, and investing in prevention through spay/neuter services and education, we will save more lives for generations to come.”

Once an equestrian center, the property is being transformed into a best-in-class animal welfare facility that blends nearly three decades of PAWS Chicago’s lifesaving experience with the latest advances in animal behavior science and shelter medicine. Surrounded by rolling hills, walking trails, and a scenic pond, the PAWS Chicago Rescue Ranch will provide a peaceful environment where animals can decompress and thrive while awaiting adoption.

“When PAWS Chicago began in 1997 more than 42,000 animals in Chicago were being euthanized. Today, that number has been reduced by nearly 90%,” added Fasseas. “While adoption is critical for lifesaving, it is spay/neuter that prevents pet overpopulation at its source, and the Rescue Ranch will have a robust surgery center equipped to perform hundreds of spay/neuter surgeries during large Spay Days — and help train the next generation of spay/neuter surgeons.”

The PAWS Chicago Rescue Ranch will:

  • Provide individualized care for up to 80 dogs plus litters of puppies in spacious accommodations featuring private outdoor patios for fresh air and relaxation while they await adoption.
  • Provide individualized care for up to 80 cats plus litters kittens through daily enrichment, socialization, and a dedicated Kitten Room, Senior Room, Feline Sun Room and cat café.
  • Connect large dogs with more suburban adopters, where yards and fewer housing restrictions can help larger breeds thrive.
  • Open a high-volume Spay/Neuter Clinic that will expand access to affordable spay/neuter services, reduce pet overpopulation, and support veterinary training.

Beyond serving homeless pets, the PAWS Chicago Rescue Ranch will be a destination for adoption, volunteerism, education, and community engagement. Visitors will also be welcomed by rescued farm animals, including a horned cow, llamas, miniature donkeys, goats, and pigs.

Construction is now underway. Learn more at pawschicago.org/RescueRanch.

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Socialists make their pitch | EDITORIAL CARTOON

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Chicago Tribune, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, OP/Ed, Organizations, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, School Districts, Scott Stantis, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on July 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Scott Stantis | The Baltimore Sun

Related: “Editorial: Graham Platner’s implosion should be a dire warning to Democrats. Is the party listening?”

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Bell House Books Celebrates grand opening with ribbon cutting ceremony in Barrington

Posted in Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, Education, Entertainment on July 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Submitted by the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Bell House Books with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held recently in celebration of the bookstore’s opening. Located at 200 Applebee St., Suite 117, in the Barrington Ice House Mall, the new independent bookstore brings a thoughtfully curated and community-centered literary experience to the area.

Bell House Books is a woman-owned, independent bookstore dedicated to bringing the joy of reading to the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. The store offers books for readers of all ages and creates a welcoming environment for both lifelong book lovers and those just beginning their reading journey.

The grand opening marks an exciting addition to Barrington’s downtown, with Bell House Books designed to serve as more than a retail space. The bookstore aims to foster connection and creativity by providing a place where the community can gather, explore new stories and share a love of literature.

In addition to its curated selection, Bell House Books plans to host community-focused events and experiences, encouraging engagement through storytelling, conversation and discovery. The store’s mission emphasizes the power of books to bring people together and build meaningful connections.

Montana Bellagamba, a mother of two, recently returned to her hometown of Barrington with her husband, Thomas. She believes that community helps shape who we are, and opening Bell House Books is incredibly meaningful to them. What began as a pop-up bookshop has grown into a permanent space where readers can gather, explore and connect.

“We started Bell House Books because we knew that there was a need in this community,” Montana said. “We were both raised here and really wanted to make a special space for this community that really helped shape us.”

For more information about Bell House Books, including store hours and upcoming events, visit their website at bellhousebooks.com or stop by the store.

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Editorial: Our neighbors are rethinking income taxes. How about it, Illinois?

Posted in Barrington Education Association, Chicago Tribune, Commodius Maximus, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Ethics, Fat Bastard, Girlie man, IDOT, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Tollway, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Transparency, Unions on July 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Lawmakers work in the Missouri House chamber on April 21, 2026, in Jefferson City, Missouri. Missouri is asking voters whether to gradually eliminate its income tax and shift more toward taxing consumption. (David A. Lieb/AP)

Missouri, Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin all are thinking creatively about taxes

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Illinoisans often assume high taxes are simply the unavoidable cost of living in the Land of Lincoln. But just across our borders, states are making some very different choices.

Missouri is asking voters whether to gradually eliminate its income tax and shift more toward taxing consumption. Indiana continues to emphasize fiscal restraint and has approved further tax reductions. Wisconsin used part of a multibillion-dollar surplus to enact income tax cuts and has continued debating additional relief. Iowa phased out its graduated individual income tax in favor of a flat rate of 3.8%.

Maybe you think Missouri is making a mistake or Iowa has gone too far. Maybe Wisconsin will reverse course. That’s not our point here. What stands out for us is that our Midwestern neighbors are at least practicing some creative taxation thinking.

Take what is going on in Missouri. On Aug. 4, voters get the chance to weigh in on whether Missouri should fundamentally rethink how it taxes its citizens; specifically whether the Show-Me State should gradually shift its tax burden away from income and toward consumption.

Ironically, Missouri currently has the very tax structure Illinois progressives have long sought: a graduated income tax. Even so, its top marginal income tax rate (4.7%) is lower than Illinois’ flat rate (4.95%).

Missouri’s average combined state and local sales tax rate also remains far below the rate in Illinois. Approval of the amendment could eventually narrow that gap, depending on how lawmakers implement the shift. Even then, Missouri would have a long way to go to match Chicago’s 10.25%.

Article continues here.

Related: “(Meanwhile) Income tax CUT on Missouri ballot; Illinois may see more outmigration”

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Toll and sales tax hikes: What Pritzker said vs. what Pritzker did

Posted in Clown Car, Deception, Elections, Fat Bastard, IDOT, Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Tollway, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Unions on July 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The governor said Illinoisans wouldn’t be interested in a toll increase to keep the Bears. Then he signaled support for what would be the largest passenger toll hike in state history.

By Rich Witzel | Illinois Policy Institute

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in June that Indiana would have to raise tolls and sales taxes to get the Chicago Bears to move there.

Illinoisans wouldn’t want a deal like that, he said.

The irony: Pritzker had already signed legislation authorizing a Chicago-area sales tax increase for transit, and he later defended proposed toll increases that would include the largest passenger hike in state history.

Late last year the governor signed the Chicago-area mass transit bailout bill, which replaced the Regional Transportation Authority with the Northern Illinois Transit Authority and created new funding for CTA, Metra and Pace.

Part of that funding comes from a 0.25 percentage-point increase in the existing RTA sales tax.

The tax is in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. The RTA approved the increase last month, so as of Aug. 1 the higher, Pritzker-approved rates will be:

  • 1.25% on general merchandise in Cook County.
  • 1.50% on qualifying food, drugs and medical appliances in Cook County.
  • 1.0% sales tax on general merchandise and qualifying food, drugs and medical appliances in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will.

Report continues here.

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(Meanwhile) Income tax CUT on Missouri ballot; Illinois may see more outmigration

Posted in Cost of Living, Fat Bastard, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes, The Center Square, Unions on July 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Missouri state flag flies alongside the U.S. flag and the St. Louis city flag. | Photo: Tom Bastin / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 / Cropped from Original

By Sean Reed | The Center Square

A ballot measure in front of Missouri voters next month could give some Illinois residents in the Metro East area a reason to move across the Mississippi River if it passes.

The measure, which will be present on ballots in the state’s primary election Aug. 4, proposes an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that could phase out income tax entirely.

Andrew Wilford, director of state policy at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, explained the ballot measure would allow the state legislature to eliminate income tax by raising other revenue sources, such as an increase to sales tax.

“They haven’t officially created the structure for that, but that would be the general idea,” Wilford said. “Currently, Missouri has a top tax rate of about 4.7%. A few years ago that was relatively low for the region, but a lot of the state’s neighbors have cut taxes pretty significantly in the intervening years.”

Bryce Hill, senior director of fiscal and economic analysis for the Illinois Policy Institute, noted there’s a larger trend, and Missouri is following other states in reducing, flattening or eliminating income taxes.

“Many states did that – started this process after the COVID-19 pandemic, when state tax revenues didn’t decline as much as anticipated and then subsequently grew very rapidly,” Hill said. “Illinois did not have that luxury. A lot of that excess revenue went to pay for previous debts.”

Article continues here.

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Progressive Policies Have Left Illinois the Least Equitable State in the Country

Posted in Clown Car, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), John Kass News, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Snowflake Effect, Springfield, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on July 15, 2026| 1 Comment »

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signs a bill into law. Photo by Mark Black

By Paul Vallas | John Kass News

Illinois politicians love the word equity. They use it as a moral shield, a budget justification, a substitute for results.

If equity is supposed to improve life for Black residents, Illinois isn’t a model — it’s an indictment, as the state consistently ranks at or near the bottom when Black-White economic disparities are examined while Illinois residents pay the residents paying the highest taxes and fees in the country. Yet this hasn’t produced any policy reassessment among the Democratic Party leadership that dominates state and Chicago government, only rhetoric and scapegoating.

Most everything in Illinois and Chicago government in recent years claims to deliver some form of “equity.” To our progressive establishment, that means greater equality in actual outcomes for the poor and other disadvantaged groups, especially racial minorities. Equity has been central to government policy since at least 2019, when Gov. JB Pritzker became governor and Lori Lightfoot became mayor, and progressives held supermajorities in the General Assembly long before that.

While Illinois Democratic leaders sermonize, Black Americans vote with their feet. Pew Research reports that from 2010 to 2024, the largest gains in Black residents were in Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Texas added over 1 million Black residents. Florida added over 745,000, drawing significant migration from the Northeast for its healthcare, education, and small business opportunities. Illinois, by contrast, was among the few places where the Black population declined, destroying the fantasy that Illinois is delivering opportunity better than states governed very differently.

Wirepoints frequently points out that a WalletHub study on racial equality ranked Illinois dead last out of all 50 states. The study measured disparities between Black and White residents across eight key metrics: poverty, homelessness, homeownership, unsheltered homeless, labor-force participation, executive positions, median income, and unemployment. The employment comparisons are especially striking (WalletHub; Illinois Policy).

Commentary continues here.

Related: “Pritzker Embraces Democratic Socialists of America as Part of Democrats’ Recipe to Win – Wirepoints”

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Illinois’ per-pupil spending 7th-highest in U.S., but outcomes shaky

Posted in 220, 300, Barrington Education Association, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, Education, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Policy Institute, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Springfield, Topics Of Interest, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on July 14, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Spending was $25,000 per student in 2022-23, almost $5,000 above the national average.

By Jessica Rehberg | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois spends more per public school student than nearly every other state.

During the 2022-23 school year, the state spent $25,000 per student, adjusted to 2024 dollars, according to a report from the National Center for Education Statistics. That’s almost $5,000 more than the U.S. average of $20,039 per student. The figure includes local and state money.

Illinois’ spending ranked seventh-highest in the nation and highest in the Midwest. Despite that, the state has struggled to show strong academic outcomes.

In the 2024-25 school year, only about half of Illinois public school students in grades 3 to 8 and in 11th grade met state reading proficiency standards. In math, just 39% were proficient.

The poor results were much more pronounced in some groups. Low-income students scored 16 to 19 percentage points below the statewide average in both reading and math.

Among Black students, 32% of those in grades 3 to 8 and 26% of 11th-graders were proficient in reading, while 14% to 15% met proficiency standards in math.

For Hispanic students, 39% to 41% were proficient in reading and 24% to 25% proficient in math across grades 3-8 and 11th grade.

These figures come after the Illinois State Board of Education lowered its proficiency benchmarks in 2025 and made student performance appear stronger on paper.

Report continues here.

Editorial note: States spending the same of more than Illinois are New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey.

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