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Memorial Day parades, services, events in the suburbs

Posted in Daily Herald, SNAFU, Topics Of Interest on May 21, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Flags are placed in the 2025 Field of the Fallen in Cary. This year’s display returns May 22-25. | Claire O’Brien for Shaw Local News Network, May 23, 2025

Daily Herald report

Memorial Day is Monday, May 25. Memorial Day parades, services and observances throughout the suburbs will pay tribute to those U.S. military personnel who gave their lives in service of their country.

Friday, May 22

Cary’s Field of the Fallen: Opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, and closing ceremony at 5 p.m. Monday, May 25, on Three Oaks and Georgetown roads, Cary. Join the Veterans Network Committee of Northern Illinois as they honor Illinois soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Featuring flags, one each bearing a soldier’s name, date of death, and age starting from the Gulf conflict. Honor Illinois’s fallen heroes by standing watch, volunteering, or simply visiting. Names will be read aloud every hour. facebook.com/veteransnetwork/.

Saturday, May 23

SALUTE Inc. Honor & Remember pancake breakfast: 8:45-11 a.m. Saturday, May 23, at Arlington Heights American Legion Post 208, 121 N. Douglas Ave. This year, they are flipping the script on the annual Memorial Day run and trading in the sweat for sweets. Join opening ceremony at 8:45 a.m. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice, coffee and more. Sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion Merle Guild Post 208. $15 for age 13 or older, $10 for age 12 or under. Tickets at the door (cash preferred) or via saluteinc.org

Sunday, May 24

Veterans of Lake Barrington Shores Memorial 5K: 8 a.m. Sunday, May 24, at the Market Place Shopping Center, 5035-5075 Market Place Road, Lake Barrington. Starts with a brief veteran-led ceremony of remembrance prior to the running of the 5K race through the Lake Barrington Shores community. $50; $25 for active duty, reserve, veteran, police and fire personnel. memorial5k.com

Monday, May 25

Barrington Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony: 10:30 a.m. to noon Monday, May 25. The parade steps off from the Veterans Memorial on Park Avenue, proceeds west on Main Street, left on Dundee Avenue, and right into Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington. The ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery will begin after the parade. barrington-il.gov

Carpentersville Memorial Day ceremony: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at the Veterans War Memorial at Carpenter Park, 275 Maple Ave., Carpentersville. The community is invited to reflect, remember, and pay tribute. facebook.com/VillageOfCarpentersville.

Cary Memorial Day parade and ceremony: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25. Hosted by Cary-Grove AMVETS Post 245. The parade starts at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, First Street and Three Oaks Road, and proceeds south on First Street from Three Oaks Road to Park Avenue. The parade will be followed by a ceremony at Veteran’s Park, Route 14 at Crystal Street. caryillinois.com.

Hoffman Estates-Schaumburg Memorial Day Observance: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at the Veterans Memorial outside the police department, 411 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Immediately following the lowering of the flag in Hoffman Estates, the observance will move to Schaumburg for a 10:45 a.m. ceremony at the St. Peter Lutheran, 202 E. Schaumburg Road. Weather permitting, hot dogs and refreshments will be served at the Picnic Grove at St. Peter Church. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating on the grounds in Schaumburg. hoffmanestates.org

Kids on the Big Waters Federation float of the Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade wave to attendees at last year’s parade. | Sofía Oyarzún/soyarzún@dailyherald.com, 2025

Arlington Heights Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony: 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 25. 107th annual parade steps off at Arlington Heights Road and Sigwalt Street, heads west to Dunton, north on Dunton, west on Euclid Avenue, south on Fremont Street to Memorial Park on Chestnut Avenue. At 11 a.m., the ceremony honors and remembers all those who have given their lives for our freedoms, especially Arlington’s Fallen Heroes — the 68 residents who died in the service to the nation from the Civil War through Afghanistan. Also, a list of names of veterans who have passed away in the preceding 12 months will be read. Hosted by the American Legion and Arlington Heights Veterans Memorial Committee. vah.com or arlingtonheightsamericanlegion.org

Algonquin Memorial Day ceremony: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Riverfront Park, 201 N. Harrison St., Algonquin. Join the American Legion in remembrance of those who gave their lives for our freedom. The ceremony will include speakers, color guard and the local high school band. algonquin.org.

Bartlett Memorial Day Walk and Remembrance: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Bartlett Park, Oak and North avenues. It begins with an American Legion flag retirement ceremony. At 10:30 a.m. veterans, Scouts, civic groups, bagpipers and residents line up for the walk to Bartlett Cemetery, which steps off at 11 a.m. At the cemetery, the remembrance continues with the posting of the colors and an invocation. bartlettil.gov

The Fremd High School marching band plays during a previous Memorial Day ceremony in Palatine’s Community Park. This year’s event takes place Monday, May 25. | Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com, 2024

Palatine American Legion Memorial Day Parade and Program: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Hillside Cemetery on Smith Street in Palatine. The parade, featuring the color guards, Little Miss Poppy, police and fire, and the Fremd marching band, steps off at 10:15 a.m. at Cornell Avenue and Smith Street, and proceeds north on Smith Street, east on Robertson Street, south on Brockway Street and east on Wood Street to the Veterans Memorial in Community Park for a short program at 11 a.m., with another ceremony at 12:15 p.m. at the Legion Memorial in Towne Square, 150 W. Palatine Road, followed by a final ceremony at Union Cemetery at 72-74 Greeley St. alpost690.us.

Wauconda Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony: 10 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Homer T. Cook Memorial Park, 600 N. Main St. Hosted by American Legion Post 911, celebrating its 75th year. The parade heads south on Main Street and ends at Route 176. Main Street closes for vehicle traffic at 9:15 a.m. Memorial Day remembrance ceremony follows at noon at Memorial Park, Route 176 and Main Street. alpost911.org

Cary Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony: 10:15 a.m. Monday, May 25. Starting on First Street to Three Oaks Road and Park Avenue, ending at Veterans Park, Route 14 at Crystal Street. Hosted by AMVETS Post 245. CaryIllinois.com.

Catholic Cemeteries Field Masses: 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, at 21 cemeteries throughout Cook and Lake counties. Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Chicago will observe Memorial Day. Active members of the military and veterans will receive a special blessing during the liturgies followed by the playing of taps. Participating cemeteries include: All Saints, 700 N. River Road, Des Plaines; Ascension, 1920 Buckley Road, Libertyville; Calvary, 301 Chicago Ave., Evanston; Maryhill, 8600 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles; St. Adalbert, 6800 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles; and St. Michael the Archangel, 1185 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Free. catholiccemeterieschicago.org/memorial-day.

Last year’s Lake Zurich Memorial Day Remembrance ceremony. This year’s event will take place Monday, May 25, at the Lake Zurich Veterans Memorial following the parade. | Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com, 2025

Lake Zurich Memorial Day Parade: 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, stepping off at the American Legion Lake Zurich Post 964, 51 Lions Drive, Lake Zurich. The parade will end at the Veterans Memorial by the police station, 200 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. lakezurich.org

Buffalo Grove Memorial Day service: 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Veterans Park, 1300 Weiland Road, Buffalo Grove. Organized by Kingswood United Methodist Church. There will be special readings, music and a flag ceremony by Scout Troop 401. vbg.org

Crystal Lake Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony: 11 a.m. Monday, May 25. Parade starts at Central High School and runs east on Franklin Avenue, north on Williams Street, and west on Woodstock Street to Union Cemetery for a memorial service. crystallake.org

Elgin Memorial Day service: 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City Blvd., Elgin. Catholic Mass along with a combined color guard, rifle salute, and the playing of taps at 8:45 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, 1001 Villa St.; ceremony with combined color guard, a rifle salute and the playing of taps at 9:15 a.m. at Lakewood Memorial Park, 30W730 Route 20. At 9:45 a.m., Elgin Navy Club and the Elgin Marine Corps League program, designed to pay tribute to veterans interred at sea, strewing of flowers into the Fox River, rifle salute, and the playing of taps at Elgin Veterans Memorial Park, 270 N. Grove Ave. At 11 a.m., ceremony will pay tribute to the 250th anniversary of the United States. Keynote speaker will be Christine Harmon, Daughters of the American Revolution. Also features the Elgin Master Chorale and a high school band; students with the Fox Valley Young Marines will read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and General John Logan’s Orders establishing Memorial Day. A free shuttle bus will pick up riders at the main gate and east gate before and after. Co-sponsored by the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association and the city of Elgin. elginmemorialday.org.​​

Memorial Day trolley rides: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, May 25, at Fox River Trolley Museum, 365 S. La Fox St., South Elgin. Last train leaves between 4 and 4:15 p.m. $10, $8 for age 62 or older, veterans and first responders; $5 for age 3-11; free for age 2 or under. foxtrolley.org.

Dundee Memorial Day ceremony: 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, at River Valley Memorial Gardens, 14N689 Route 31, West Dundee. They will be placing flags for veterans on Friday, May 22, starting at 9 a.m. going until all flags are placed. To volunteer, call the office at (847) 426-3031. rivervalleymemorialgardens.com.

Lake in the Hills annual Memorial Day Pig Roast: 1 p.m. Monday, May 25, American Legion Post 1231, 1101 W. Algonquin Road, Lake in the Hills. facebook.com/alpost1231.

More ceremonies can be found here.

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ComEd electric customers brace for double-digit spike in bills

Posted in AI, BOHICA, Data Center, SNAFU, Unions, WBEZ Chicago on May 15, 2026| Leave a Comment »

AI data centers are helping drive up costs for consumers as demand is beginning to threaten the power supply. | Image courtesy ComEd/Shutterstock

By Brett Chase | WBEZ Chicago

ComEd electric customers will see at least a 12% jump in monthly charges starting in June as big data centers increase demand for power and an unrelated consumer credit ends.

The average monthly residential bill is $107, according to ComEd, but that charge will jump to at least $120 as more high-tech operations suck up electricity. A credit related to nuclear power and renewable energy that was a temporary relief from high rates is also set to end at the end of this month.

The majority of the monthly increase is due to the credit expiring, but as much as a quarter of that jump in cost is due to the high demand of power and prices set by a multistate grid operator known as PJM Interconnection.

The upcoming increase follows a double-digit spike in electric bills a year ago credited almost entirely to the rise of data centers, most of which are powering artificial intelligence applications.

And the data center trend doesn’t appear to be slowing.

ComEd says there are more than 80 data centers in Northern Illinois using massive amounts of power. In a state filing last year, the utility said there were another 75 proposed commercial projects in the region that also would be large electricity users.

The estimated power use for those proposed operations is far more than the electricity currently being produced, ComEd said. It’s not clear how many of those proposed operations will actually go forward.

Article continues here.

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WATCH: Ex-rep sues Pritzker, Illinois over race-based congressional map

Posted in Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, SNAFU, Springfield, The Center Square, The Chicago Way, Transparency, Unions on May 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The entrance of the federal court in the Southern District of Illinois is shown in East St. Louis. Photo: Greg Bishop / The Center Squar

By Sean Reed | The Center Square

Illinois’ congressional district map is being challenged over what some argue are unconstitutional racial requirements for districts. A former Republican state representative sued Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the State Board of Elections late last week.

Jeanne Ives, a former representative of the state’s 42nd district, brought the case backed by J. Christian Adams, president and general counsel of the Public Interest Legal Foundation.

Filed in the U.S. District Court in the Central District of Illinois, the official complaint claims congressional maps drawn after the 2020 U.S. Census are unconstitutional because the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011 mandates the creation of “racial districts.”

Ives told The Center Square Daily that state Democrats have brazenly moved to draw maps based on racial lines.

“It’s very obvious to anybody looking at Illinois maps, and Illinois law, that these districts are in fact – they use race to design the districts and the SCOTUS decision makes it abundantly clear that you just can’t do that anymore,” Ives said.

Ives said a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which determined Louisiana’s district map as unconstitutional because of an over-reliance on race, is what has explicitly made it clear that Illinois’ congressional map as unconstitutional.

Report continues here.

Related: “U.S. Supreme Court decision puts brakes on Illinois redistricting amendment”

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5 things to know about Illinois’ new school rating system

Posted in Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, FUBAR, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Policy Institute, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, SNAFU, Springfield, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on April 30, 2026| 2 Comments »

Labels on the familiar state report card are poised to change.

By Hannah Schmid | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois plans to revamp how it rates public schools, meaning familiar labels on the state report card will change.

The Illinois State Board of Education in April approved a new school accountability system beginning in fall 2026.

The board says the overhaul will make school ratings clearer and fairer. The changes also remove some key measures and reshape how performance is judged.

Yet at a time when nearly half of Illinois students can’t read at grade level and even fewer are proficient in math, the board’s overhaul will change how schools are labeled but not how they perform.

Here are five things you should know about the changes while the plan awaits federal approval.

1._Schools will no longer be graded on a curve.

Illinois’ rating system ranks schools against each other. Only the top 10% can be in the top category and only the bottom 5% are ranked in the lowest.

The rankings are based on a school’s performance against other schools rather than strictly on how well its students meet specific criteria.

The new system will grade schools based on fixed standards. The goal is to eliminate moving goalposts, where a school’s rating could change based on comparison to other schools even if its performance doesn’t change. That could make ratings more consistent over time.

Article continues here.

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(Androgynous) Illinois Democrat tries to bleep (their) way through a tough Senate primary with a new expletive-laden anti-Trump ad

Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, News Media, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, SNAFU, Springfield on February 20, 2026| 1 Comment »

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is out with a new anti-Trump ad. She’s running in the state’s Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate on March 17. | Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune News Service via Getty Images file

By Natasha Korecki | NBC News

As the Democratic Party wrestles with how much to focus on President Donald Trump on the campaign trail, one Senate candidate is giving a clear answer: “F— Trump.”

Juliana Stratton, the state’s lieutenant governor, is running her first TV ad beginning Friday, a spot featuring a series of people, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., all saying “F— Trump.”

“F— Trump, vote Juliana,” one person after another says in the ad.

Post continues here.

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Build 220 Deserves the Same Transparency Taxpayers Are Being Asked to Fund

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Barrington High School, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Education, Ethics, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Letters to the Editor, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, SNAFU, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

To the Editor,

As Barrington 220 considers additional tax levies and future capital commitments, the community deserves a clear, accessible understanding of how recent voter-approved funds have actually been spent. Over the past several months, I have reviewed hundreds of pages of publicly available contracts, FOIA disclosures, construction work orders, and financial ledgers related to the Build 220 program. Several findings stand out and merit broader public awareness.

First, district records show that construction management overhead for Build 220 projects significantly exceeds common industry benchmarks. For K–12 CM-at-Risk projects, management overhead and fees typically fall in the 10–15% range. However, Barrington 220’s own Project Work Orders (PWOs) show overhead levels ranging from approximately 23% to as high as 28%, with some smaller project segments exceeding 30% (See: Build 220 — Construction vs. Overhead).

Key takeaway: On approximately $33 million of PWOs, overhead and soft costs account for an estimated $7–9 million. These percentages are nearly double typical industry norms and warrant closer public review

On just four major PWOs totaling roughly $33 million, this translates to an estimated $7–9 million spent on management reimbursables, contingency stacking, insurance loadings, fees, and pre-loaded allowances rather than direct construction labor or materials. A visual summary of this comparison is attached for readers.

Second, architectural and engineering fees have exceeded the district’s own contractual cap. The master agreement with the district’s architect set a limit of 7.4% of the construction budget, which equates to approximately $9.5 million based on the district’s budget reconciliation. Yet the district’s accounts receivable ledger shows approximately $11.7 million paid to date — an overage of more than $2.2 million (See: Build 220 — Architectural & Engineering Fees).

Drivers of the overage include: duplicated planning across firms, over-scoped civil engineering bundles later credited back, optional enhancements not included in referendum language, and avoidable redesigns

This increase appears tied to duplicated planning work across multiple firms, over-scoped civil engineering packages later reduced through credits, optional enhancements not included in referendum messaging, and avoidable redesign costs. At no point has the community been presented with a cumulative report showing how or why the 7.4% cap was exceeded.

Third, many costs that function like change orders were embedded directly into base contracts as lump-sum allowances — including webcams, temporary occupancy setups, traffic control, and other vaguely described “reimbursables.” Without a publicly released change-order ledger, taxpayers cannot easily determine which allowances were actually used, which were not, or how final project costs compare to what voters approved.

These findings do not allege wrongdoing. They do, however, raise legitimate questions about financial discipline, cost control, and transparency — especially when the district is asking the community to support additional levies.

Before requesting more taxpayer dollars, Barrington 220 should provide the public with:

  1. A complete Build 220 change-order ledger for each Project Work Order;
  2. A clear breakdown of construction dollars versus management and overhead costs;
  3. A reconciliation of architectural and engineering fees against the 7.4% contractual limit; and
  4. Plain-language summaries that allow residents to understand where their money actually went.

Barrington residents have consistently shown they are willing to invest in their schools. That willingness depends on trust, and trust depends on transparency. Clear financial reporting is not an obstacle to progress — it is the foundation of it.

Sincerely,

Sam Mehic
South Barrington

Related: “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture”

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Illinois Route 62 Study November 2025 Project Update

Posted in Algonquin Rd, Aunt Blabby, Cook, County, Deception, FPDCC, FUBAR, IDOT, Land Use, Longmeadow Parkway, Mówimy po polsku, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Roads & Bridges Committee, Roads and Bridges, SNAFU, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Traffic on November 12, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Input from the public, stakeholders, and local agencies has been considered and incorporated over the course of the study. To date, there have been two (2) public meetings and five (5) Community Advisory Group Meetings. IDOT has also met with representatives from the Village of Barrington Hills, Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) multiple times at key project milestones. Input from these meetings has helped IDOT establish the Purpose and Need, develop the Reasonable Range of Alternatives, identify the Alternatives to be Carried Forward, and select a Preferred Alternative.

The two typical sections included in the Alternatives to be Carried Forward (see September 2023 update) were further refined based on the following design goals and coordination with FPCC, ISGS, USFWS:

  • Minimize land acquisition from FPCC
  • Minimize impacts to threatened and endangered species habitat
  • Improve flood protection of IL 62
  • Maintain existing surface and groundwater conditions that support endangered species habitat
  • Reduce pollutants from stormwater runoff

These refinements have led to a Preferred Alternative that satisfies the Purpose and Need while minimizing impacts to the surrounding environment by incorporating a combination of three typical sections. All three typical sections include four (4) travel lanes, paved shoulders, mountable curbs, closed drainage, and a shared-use path. The Preferred Alternative is divided into two segments due to the differences in land use and the environmental resources as shown in the following figures.

  • Segment 1 – West of Bateman Road and east of Old Sutton Road:
    • This segment (shown in purple in Figure 1) has one typical section as shown in Figure 2.
  • Segment 2 – Between Bateman Road and Old Sutton Road:
    • This segment (shown in orange/yellow in Figure 1) is restricted by the surrounding FPCC property and environmental resources. This segment utilizes two typical sections as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

IDOT is currently developing the preliminary right-of-way needs of the Preferred Alternative and potential impacts to various environmental, community, agricultural, and cultural resources within the study area. IDOT plans to present the Preferred Alternative and summary of impacts to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and resource agencies for concurrence in February 2026. Once concurrence on the Preferred Alternative has been received, a draft of the Environmental Assessment document will be prepared and made available for public review and input.

Figure 1: Preferred Alternative Segments

(Click on images to enlarge)

Figure 2: 10-ft Outside Shoulders with 4:1 Fore Slopes (Segment 1-Purple)

Figure 3: 2-ft Outside Shoulders with Retaining Walls (Segment 2-Orange)

Figure 4: Continuous Bridge over Shallow Groundwater (Segment 2-Yellow)

Read more and comment here.

Related: “Here’s what’s in Illinois’ $50.6B six-year infrastructure plan (10.3.25),” “IDOT seeks public input on roads, rail, and EVs,” “IDOT releases Algonquin Road/Route 62 ‘project update’”

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Cook County property tax bills will be mailed out next week

Posted in Cook, County, Property Taxes, SNAFU on November 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By A.D. Quig | Chicago Tribune

After months of uncertainty and delay, Cook County officials announced Friday that property tax bills will be mailed on Nov. 14 and are due by Dec. 15.

Homeowners will thus be able to include those tax payments on their annual income tax filings, while ensuring taxing bodies will see much-needed revenue before the end of the year, though they might be less stoked to make massive payments to the county right around the holidays.

This year’s delay centered on the decade-long and expensive upgrade to the internal system used across the county’s property tax offices — the treasurer, clerk and assessor — overseen by the county’s Bureau of Technology and carried out by Texas-based Tyler Technologies.

More here.

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Statement on the Appointment of Darby Hills to the Illinois State Senate

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Barrington Hills Country Club, Board of Elections, Clown Car, Deception, Dinky, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Ethics, Illinois State Board of Elections, Mad Cows, One Barrington Hills, Perjury, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, RINO, SNAFU, Springfield, The Other Half, Transparency, Village Board, Zoning Board on June 10, 2025| 1 Comment »

For those confused about the recent appointment of Darby Hills to the Illinois State Senate, let’s clarify the facts and the legal process unfolding in McHenry County.

The judge in this case was asked to rule on two critical issues. First, whether the Lake County Republican Chairman could retroactively remedy the fact that Ms. Hills was not a Republican after McConchie‘s retirement. Brin appointed Hills as a republican precinct committeeperson —something both she and the chairman acknowledged needed to be done to remedy this deficit. The court allowed the chairman to appoint Ms. Hills as a precinct committeeperson weeks after Senator McConchie vacated his seat, arguably ignoring the statutes requirements and effectively temporarily enabling the appointment.

The second, and more consequential issue—the heart of the lawsuit—is whether Ms. Hills was a Republican at the time of the vacancy. Rather than interpret the relevant statute, requiring a nominee have valid Republican credentials the judge declined to rule on that core question. The case is now on appeal, and the Appellate Court will be asked to determine whether state law was properly followed and whether Hills was legally eligible for appointment under party rules and Illinois statutes.

Regardless of how one defines “Republican,” Ms. Hills’ voting record in Springfield speaks volumes. In just a short time, she has cast key votes that are out of step with Republican principles—votes that were anti-Second Amendment, pro-DEI mandates, anti-business, and in lockstep with teachers’ union interests.

The outcome of this legal appeal will be watched closely. If the Appellate Court finds that Ms. Hills was ineligible for appointment, it raises serious questions:

  • Will she be allowed to retain her Senate seat?
  • Will her votes be invalidated?
  • Will she be required to return taxpayer funds paid in salary during her disputed tenure?

Of course, there remains a straightforward path to public office: campaign, knock on doors, earn support, and win an election—both in a Republican primary and a general contest. But for now, it seems, Ms. Hills has taken a shortcut, bypassing voters in favor of backroom maneuvering.

Observers, constituents, and constitutional conservatives across the state will be following this case closely—not only for what it reveals about one Senate seat, but for what it says about process, transparency, the integrity of some in the Republican party and our electoral system.

Related: “Residents deserve full disclosure – an update,” “Residents deserve full disclosure,” “’No more dog and pony shows, please!’” “Gun rights advocacy group expresses displeasure with terms like ‘RINO, Backstabbing Traitor’ and ‘Botox Queen’ describing a senator’s vote on Senate Bill 8,” “Darby Hills Sworn In to Represent Illinois’ 26th Senate District,” “Darby Hills chosen — again — to succeed Dan McConchie in state Senate,” “’The Fix’ is in?,” “Darby Hills’ appointment to state Senate on hold as Republicans reopen applications for McConchie’s seat,” “26th Legislative District Committee meeting cancelled,” “State Senator seat at any price?,” ”26th Legislative District Committee meeting tomorrow,” “Do Over Scheduled for Meeting to Replace State Senator Dan McConchie,” “Restraining order sought to block 26th Senate appointment amid legal fight,” “Lawsuit challenges legality of GOP appointment to 26th State Senate seat,” “McConchie’s would-be successor isn’t a Republican and can’t serve, lawsuit alleges,” “Darby Hills Appointed as New State Senator for Illinois’ 26th Senate District”

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IL Secretary of State, frustrated (as are taxpayers!) with REAL ID confusion, criticizes federal policies

Posted in FUBAR, Politics, SNAFU, Springfield, Taxes, WTF on May 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias | BlueRoomStream

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says there is no need for most Illinoisans to wait in line for a REAL ID.

Starting Wednesday, the U.S. government will require a passport, REAL ID or other REAL ID-compliant identification to board a domestic flight or enter secure federal facilities.

Giannoulias said you can still get a REAL ID after May 7.

“So to see these lines is really frustrating, especially because so many people do not need it,” Giannoulias said.

Courtesy of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office

The secretary added that, according to federal officials, people will still be able to fly.

“Homeland Security has let us know that even after May 7, there will be essentially a two-year enforcement period where they’re not gonna not let people onto an airplane,” Giannoulias said.

Giannoulias said people should check the Illinois Secretary of State website to see if they need REAL IDs before making appointments. He said people under 18 do not need REAL IDs.

Giannoulias pointed his finger at the federal government for long lines and confusion over REAL IDs.

“The amount of people who are coming because they are worried about being deported or not being American citizens, that fear is real. We see it in people’s faces,” Giannoulias said.

Read more here.

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