Cat (she/her)

A new pilot program aims to bring childhood lead testing directly to communities on the South Side, the Chicago Department of Public Health announced Monday. https://to.wttw.com/47CoUhx

Two major Chicago-area hospital systems — Endeavor Health and Rush University System for Health — announced plans Wednesday to merge, a union that would create one of the largest health systems in Illinois.

Gas prices are “temporarily” high, says the president. That’s because Republicans are temporarily in power. Vote.

Between IL-09, Illinois state house district 13, and this there has been a lot of money spent on Uptown voters this year. Anyway, kinda makes sense. This seat is a MUST win for CTU. Zaccor won what is now 4A in 2024. She’s in danger this time though.

If I had a nickel for every cat and the hat related thing that happened this week, I'd have two nickels... which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice

NEW — Nurses at Endeavor Health's Skokie, Highland Park, Glenbrook and Evanston hospitals filed to form a union today They'll hold a press conference with the Teamsters on Friday outside of Endeavor's HQ in Evanston

Illinois, you saw a clear choice on the debate stage last night. If you're ready for a true fighter who's going to stand up to Donald Trump and make life more affordable, make your voice heard on November 3rd.

NEW — A second "suspicious" envelope was received by Rep. @schakowsky.house.gov's Skokie office today, prompting a hazmat and FBI response, I'm told U.S. Capitol Police were also informed Her office reported receiving an envelope on Friday too, as many other congressional offices had

I suspect this strategy, or something like it, will continue It sounds like AIPAC will likely continue supporting candidates behind the scenes, but candidate FEC disclosures will no longer have donations "earmarked via AIPAC" UDP is not letting up: www.nytimes.com/2026/10/21/u...

The strategy in #IL09 was not direct support from AIPAC AIPAC sent fundraising emails to members, urging donations and providing web links The links led donors to another website where donations were made, but weren't "earmarked" because they were technically direct from donors

AIPAC to end direct candidate endorsements and PAC contributions to allies, per Jewish Insider:

“I’m not in the DSA, but I want us to embrace DSA members. I think we have to,” Biss said. "I think it's a huge mistake not to."

Btw Cook County voters, injustice watch has a handy guide for figuring out how to vote in these judge elections. They don’t make recommendations but the do have a guide of things you might be interested in knowing.

The cost of everything from groceries and gas to housing and childcare is going up because of choices made by Donald Trump's administration. Those choices have consequences. So do elections. The midterms are our chance to elect leaders who will fight for the people.

I was proud to join Michigan Jews for Democracy in Detroit last night to talk about why I’m supporting @abdulelsayed.bsky.social for Senate. With antisemitism rising, Abdul has shown a real commitment to Jewish safety. He’s the right choice for our community and our country.

Man who heckled Abdul El-Sayed is former Josh Hawley aide, records show

Scoop — @danielbiss.bsky.social is headed to Michigan tonight to speak with Jewish voters about @abdulelsayed.bsky.social “I have seen from him a genuine commitment to Jewish safety as a part of his commitment to the safety and security and dignity of all people” Biss says he’ll tell voters

Great to spend the morning with the Wheeling Township Democrats, talking about how to meet the moment this midterm season!

Out in Arlington Heights today joining with neighbors to say loud and clear: 👑❌ No Kings! 🗳️✅ Vote early!

Wow. In a new court filing seeking to strike down Evanston's reparations program, the Justice Department is using both Callais and Students for Fair Admission rulings, not to mention the 14th Amendment itself, to argue that the program is unconstitutional

NEW — U.S. District Court Judge John F. Kness said Thursday he will grant the U.S. Department of Justice's motion to intervene in a case challenging the City of Evanston's landmark reparations program

A federal judge on Tuesday extended an order blocking President Donald Trump's administration from banning reporters for three news outlets — CNN, MS NOW and Politico — from the White House, a pivotal operational development for the organizations. https://to.pbs.org/4dX1Dun

CAT-an

I'm dying laughing at how the cat has conformed to her flower shaped bed today

More than five million people have lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits since President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill passed last year. https://to.pbs.org/47Sb4rd

Texas, I want to be walking into the United States Capitol with @jamestalarico.bsky.social by my side in January. You know what to do on November 3rd!

Yes. It is possible and should be a priority. He has used his wealth to destroy this country and kill people through the gutting of USAID. He should absolutely have that power taken away from him.

Suburban Cook County voters can start voting today Info: evanstonnow.com/early-voting...

Dems in Illinois have a supermajority that they are going to expand and Republicans deserve that level of defeat for what they did to the state under Rauner Maybe you should have helped override some of those budget vetos so that we had a budget. But no! You wanted to torpedo state finances instead

I spoke with Astead Herndon this week about the ICE incident in Evanston last weekend and what the reaction has been this week for his newsletter, The Midterms, Actually Link here: americaactually.substack.com/p/how-latino...

The first case to go before the Supreme Court this term deals with whether state and local governments can sue energy companies over their role in climate change. https://to.pbs.org/4j2FrlQ

Happening now in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview: A few hundred people are out protesting right-wing provocateur Jake Lang and his attempted "crusader march" on the local Palestine Fest going on nearby. Police in riot gear just formed a line, with Lang's group behind them.

BREAKING: I've obtained an audio recording of the 911 call between an unidentified man who was violently detained by ICE agents in Evanston on Sept. 20 before agents drove off after he told them he was a U.S. citizen

I've also obtained body camera footage of an Evanston PD officer's conversation with an ICE agent after the incident on Howard Street, where the agent describes what he says happened and admits the man they detained was not the person they were looking for youtube.com/watch?v=xNKP...

Obama has now been out of office for longer than he was in office lol

Meet Backpack, your 2026 Fat Bear Week champion. Backpack is 20 years old, weighs about 1,000 pounds and got his nickname because, as a cub, he loved riding on his mom's back across the Brooks River.

Introducing your ultimate fighter and champion: Bear 89 Backpack 👑 Thanks for joining us for the biggest Fat Bear Week to date.

"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation," former special counsel Jack Smith said during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. https://to.pbs.org/4hwiB3E

Work requirements for some Medicaid beneficiaries begin across the U.S. in January, the result of President Donald Trump's big 2025 tax cut and policy law, and a handful of Republican-led states are imposing tougher rules than the law requires. https://to.pbs.org/4xQHBc0

Ready players? Let's vote 🐻 Round one is open at fatbearweek.org

So uh, about that, looks an awful lot like someone might actually propose a data center in Evanston, IL

NEW: about 48 hours after this incident in Evanston, DHS had provided a statement, saying the man was “not cooperative” after agents identified themselves and said they “later left the scene without further incident once the individual finally identified himself.”

Today, EPD responded to a sighting of federal agents at Dodge/Howard, where a US citizen was briefly detained and then released. The person was treated at St Francis hospital for minor injuries. EPD continues to investigate the situation, and we will remain vigilant about federal activities.

Adding: The gray-haired agent in this video wore a patch that read "federal officer / fugitive operations," plus an ICE badge patch, per photos and videos shared with me. He talked to an EPD officer and a supervisor for multiple minutes, per another video. (FOIAs sent a few hrs ago — updates TK)

Video of this incident shared on Facebook This appears to be the end of the incident. I'm told Evanston police responded and the man was a U.S. citizen and was taken to a local hospital Police made contact with the agents near Dodge/Brummel Story with more info TK momentarily

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded a man Sunday afternoon in the Texas capital of Austin, local authorities said. https://to.pbs.org/4jf3g9W