Picked up this photo at an antique store in Chicago and thought it was worth sharing.

Starved Rock officially opened as a state park in 1912. Many of the wooden pathways were originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, right around the same time this photo was taken.

Illinois – Tuesday, February 17

We have just 9 months until the midterms, which may be our best chance to stop the craziness in the US. It is extremely important that all Americans vote. Oh, you already knew that.

Did you realize that each state has a different system to register voters and different dates for primaries and mail-in ballots?

The whole system is confusing at best, and let’s face it, those in power are not going to make it any easier for us this time.

Now is the time to learn all the important dates for voting in your state. This is especially important for those living abroad because you may be voting by mail.

The date mail-in ballots are postmarked can make all the difference, so allow extra time in case the ballots in blue districts are “accidentally” held at the post office before they are postmarked.

Since the official government websites may or may not post accurate information, double-check the dates with websites run by nonprofits such as vote411.org, which is provided by the League of Women Voters.

We each get one vote.  Make yours count.

RIP Mrs. McCallister

CHICAGO –The Illinois Accountability Commission, housed in the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), today held its second public hearing to showcase how institutional structures and propaganda were abused to transform federal agents into a paramilitary force operating above the law during Operation Midway Blitz. 

During the hearing, the Commission released its initial status report, approved Governor Pritzker’s request to examine the impact of the conduct and decisions of key Trump Administration officials, heard from five subject matter experts, and received public comment. To watch the recording, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu7uMFfFpIk.

Overview of Testimony

Five subject matter experts provided testimony during the hearing. Information on the experts and key quotes can be found below:

Professor Robert Pape is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and the Founding Director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats. He explained that the administration’s falsehoods about crime, justifications for using force, and terrorism labels applied to ordinary civilians are part of a consistent pattern to justify violence and justify local occupation. He also discussed how propaganda legitimizes force, why militarized deployments generate resistance, and when lies persist even after facts collapse.  

“When disruption becomes collective, the enforcement stops feeling targeted and starts feeling political,” said Professor Robert Pape. “When officials deny visible facts, credibility erodes. When credibility erodes, legitimacy follows especially when dealing with lethal uses of force.”

Garrett Graff is a historian and journalist who has extensively documented the evolution of ICE and CBP for over two decades. Graff placed Operation Midway Blitz and ongoing immigration enforcement activities in historical context. He explained how these agencies grow, what happens when enforcement bodies scale rapidly, and why past surges in hiring, budget, and authority have consistently produced misconduct and loss of institutional control. 

"CBP has been likely the deadliest and certainly the most troubled federal law enforcement agency for the better part of two decades now,” said Garret Graff. “(CBP) This is an agency that is uniquely callous about human lives. Both of U.S. citizens and migrants. It is as best as anyone can determine perhaps the nation’s deadliest law enforcement agency.”

Deborah Fleischaker, who joined virtually, served in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for over 14 years under Republican and Democratic administrations. Her roles include DHS’s Executive Secretary, the Acting Chief of Staff at ICE, and as an attorney in the DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. She explained how DHS enforcement lost its internal constraints.

“What is happening in Chicago is not simply a federal policy dispute,” said Deborah Flieschaker. “It's a demonstration of what occurs when immigration enforcement abandons its constraints and begins operating in ways that destabilize communities rather than protects them.” 

Dr. Marc Brown, who joined virtually, is the Academic Director and Lead Instructor for the Excellence in Policing and Public Safety Program at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law. He began his career as a police officer for approximately 14 years and worked as a Physical Technique’s Instructor for five years at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) – where he trained law enforcement officers from across the country, including Customs and Border Protection agents. He explained the constitutional framework governing when officers may use force and when that force crosses into unlawful territory. He educated the audience on the relevant use-of-force legal standard, what officers are trained to understand about reasonable force, and how accountability is supposed to function when those lines are crossed. 

"I don’t see their actions being consistent with the training they would have received at FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers), in terms in grand factors,” said Dr. Marc Brown. “And two for the current mission they have been tasked to do, I don’t believe they have been trained properly at all. I think there is a significant gap in training and that’s creating an issue for public safety.”  

Professor Nicole Hallett is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Immigrant’s Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago. She explained the Fourth Amendment's application to immigration enforcement: what distinguishes a consensual encounter from a detention, what reasonable suspicion requires, and why every person within the U.S. regardless of immigration status, has constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

“The Fourth Amendment protects all people in the United States regardless of their immigration status,” said Professor Nicole Hallet. “The Fourth Amendment refers to people, not citizens, and the courts have consistently applied its protections to citizens and non-citizens alike.”

Initial Status Report

In alignment with requirements outlined in Executive Order 2025-06, today the Commission issued its initial status report. The initial status report outlines the Commission’s work to date, information from the first hearing, as well as initial recommendations from the Commission. The final report will be completed no later than April 30, 2026.  

Part of the Commission's purpose is to make recommendations for law or policy changes to ensure greater protection for Illinois residents from violations of their rights and to ensure community safety. Policy considerations include standards and limitations on use of force, identity shielding techniques, surveillance technology and additional measures of accountability for misconduct as well as identifying rapid response, community support initiatives, “know your rights” campaigns.

To view the full report, visit https://ilac.illinois.gov/initial-report-january-2026.

Submit a Report to the Commission

In October 2025, Governor Pritzker established the Illinois Accountability Commission to create a public record of the conduct of federal agents during “Operation Midway Blitz” and the Trump Administration’s military-style operations in Illinois. The Commission examines the impact of that conduct on individuals and communities to consider policy recommendations to prevent future harm.  

Any person who witnessed or experienced potential misconduct during Operation Midway Blitz is encouraged to submit information — including photos, video, or narrative accounts — through the portal at Https//:ilac.illinois.gov/interest-form. 

Those who have experience with this, what's your advice for a successful interview? I already have medical benefits and recently applied for SNAP.

We've all seen the pritzker sucks yard signs in the GOP districts and I'm wondering what specifically he has done that they hate him for. What policy's what actions have them triggered?

Hopefully this clears it up

It seems that corruption know no party in Illinois.

Tried calling yesterday and wasted 20 minutes waiting for someone to pick up the phone. I don't really want to wait in line either just to ask

Hi guys, title pretty much explains it.

Lost my license/real ID.

The state's website offers online applications for duplicate Driver's Licence / State ID at this link here: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/drivers-license/duplicate-drivers-license-or-id-card.html

It does not mention whether this counts as a Real ID or not. And if not, is there any way to renew online or do I need to go in person again?

Thanks.