Fire destroys food pantry #Ward09

[VIDEO] Been quite a while since I've shared a local story on this blog. On Monday there was a fire in Roseland near 111th/Michigan where a church operated a food pantry. You see the story above from WGN.

There is a GoFundMe drive page [CLICK HERE] for this church and also it was reported that Rev. Jesse Jackson is pledging help for this church as well. From ABC 7

Man fatally Shot In The Pharmacy Drive-Thru 0n 75th & State

[VIDEO] Here's a story from the Tribune:

A man was shot and killed as he sat in his SUV in a Walgreens drive-through lane in the Chatham neighborhood on the South Side, according to Chicago police.

Kendredge Dillard, 27, was shot in the head around 9:50 p.m. in the first block of East 75th Street by someone in a black sedan, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Dillard lived about a mile away in the 8000 block of South Stewart Avenue.

A female with him was taken to St. Bernard Hospital with minor injuries from flying glass flying, police said.

No one was in custody.

A beige SUV, its front doors open, was the focus of the crime scene that stretched between the Walgreens and South State Street. Both of the doors’ windows were mostly shot out. Officers shined flashlights into the SUV and on the slushy ground around it. One of them kicked over a lump of snow to see what was underneath.

As always be very careful out there! 

CapFax: Unity facade cracks as Lightford lashes out

To be honest I hate to see stories about this. Sometimes I wish politics can just run like a machine, unfortunately we're dealing with people. People have their own agendas.

So the story via Capitol Fax about state Sen. Kimberly Lightford's attempts to become the presiding officer of the Illinois State Senate being derailed by the efforts of former Senate president Emil Jones. It's about her failure just about a decade ago to support another Black state senate to become Senate president.

Unity facade cracks as Lightford lashes out https://t.co/LVZmY9MmSX

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 20, 2020

I think for now enough about what's going on at the state capitol in Springfield.

We have a new IL Senate President

IL State Senate Chambers - Randy von Liski

There is an update to who will become the next Senate President. I learned last week that it's between state Sen. Kimberly Lightford & Sen. Don Harmon. Sen. Elgie Sims was another person who threw his name in the hat for the presiding officer and essentially Democrat leader (Dems are in the majority) of the state senate, however, he withdrew and backed Lightford (who's also the Senate Dems Majority Leader).

Sunday it was reported that Don Harmon who represents Oak Park amongst other cities in his 39th District will succeed the outgoing John Cullerton as Senate President.

I've linked to CapFax often over the years and among other sources it's a great resource to follow state politics. Rich Miller provided a post for live coverage and then showed a post about reaction to Harmon's ascension.

Capitol Fax: Senate President preview

IL State Senate Chamber - Raymond Cunningham

Sharing this on the blog since earlier this week it was in the news that state Sen. Elgie Sims (D-17) had been running for Senate President only to withdraw and endorse his colleague state Sen. Kimberly Lightford for that role. Lightfoot is vying for the spot to be vacated by current President Sen. John Cullterton with state Sen. Don Harmon.

The vote is expected to take place on Sunday according to the preview from CapFax. What you see here seems like high stakes. Typical politics I suppose....

Senate President preview https://t.co/qPH6dOzBml

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 17, 2020

Want to work in Springfield with the Illinois House Democrat caucus?

Probably more of a criticism from CapFax, however, for those of you who have a passion for politics this is very worthwhile. Of course many of these positions requires working in Springfield, the state capital. Check here to see what's available.

Do better https://t.co/oPqLTSLH0J

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 16, 2020

South Halsted corridor enhancements

[VIDEO] The reason I'm sharing this is that any opportunities we have to improve transportation on the south side is worthwhile whether we have bus rapid transit on Halsted or we extend the CTA Red Line further south.

The video above is of a recent meeting about bus rapid transit by Pace Bus and CTA on South Halsted St. Block Club Chgo got more on this.

South Side commuters got their first glimpse at proposed changes coming to the South Halsted Bus Corridor during last week’s public meeting at Woodson Public Library.

Transit officials from the Chicago Transit Authority and PACE were on hand to field questions about the project and Pulse, PACE’s rapid transit network introduced last summer in an effort to modernize facilities and increase ridership.

They also received input from customers, who will have the biggest say on all potential improvements planned for the 11-mile corridor, one of the busiest in the city.

The total cost of the project is $52-$72 million, with Pulse station upgrades costing $500,000 each and buses costing $400,000 each, according to PACE Chief Communications Officer Maggie Daly Skogsbakken.

The two agencies unveiled several possible changes for the South Halsted Bus Corridor, each of which would ease the flow of traffic and reduce travel time between 5 and 10 percent.

The first option would call for parking spaces to only be repurposed at intersections, shaving travel time by 5 percent. The second option would replace a travel lane for bus lanes between 129th and 154th Streets. The third includes Option Two, with bus lanes between 98th and 129th Street replacing on-street parking, reducing travel time by 10 percent.

Potential Pulse station enhancements include heated shelters, customizable shelter panels, landscaping and trash receptacles and an 11- to 12-inch raised platform with heated pavement that would allow for level boarding. Buses would also get a Wi-Fi upgrade.

Sen. Sims report in dispute????

I guess it's in dispute from the CapFax report yesterday. Rich Miller emphatically makes clear that he stands by reports that Sen. Sims is quitting his race for state senate president and endorsing his colleague Sen. Kimberly Lightford as she runs against yet another colleague Sen. Don Harmon.

I stand by my story https://t.co/74t8EFgyjw

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 14, 2020

BTW, Miller had talked to Sen. Sims to confirm stated in today's post.

Sen. Elgie Sims withdraws from race for state Senate President

State Capitol Springfield, IL via kurtsj00

Last year, Senate President John Cullerton stated his intention to retire before the end of his term from his seat and leadership position. The means the Illinois Senate has to elect a new Senate President. I'm sure there was speculation once Cullerton made his announcement last year, but I never had any idea that 17th District state Senator Elgie Sims threw his hat in the ring.

On Monday via CapFax, he will withdraw from contention and intends to endorse state Senator Kimberly Lightford. The only other person who's seeking the Senate President seat is state Sen. Don Harmon.

Sims drops out, backs Lightford https://t.co/ZYsuX5dNci

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) January 13, 2020

Just bear in mind over a decade ago that his predecessor Emil Jones had also retired before the end of his term and not long before the elevation of former state Senator Barack Obama who later became President of the United States. Cullerton was elected Senate President just in time to preside over the impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Sinkhole in South Shore

[VIDEO] Happy New Year everyone!

We had a storm over the weekend. It wreaked havoc on our lakefront especially as the park district put up barriers on areas they control to ensure public safety. I also saw some footage on ig that showed the water from Lake Michigan beating up the shore especially in South Shore.

Here's a story from over the weekend from WGN about a sinkhole in South Shore on 73rd.

Further inland I'm sure most of us fared better. Beyond this we've had a relatively mild winter so far. And we're approaching two months before the start of spring.