Tag: illinois

Arraignment set for transgender woman in decade-old murder of 13-year-old

An arraignment hearing for a person accused of killing a 13-year-old boy nearly a decade ago will be held later this month.

That’s the result of a very brief hearing in Tazewell County Circuit Court where Keith A. Brackett made an initial appearance on the murder allegations.

Brackett, 48, wasn’t in the courtroom, rather appearing via video conference from the county jail. Brackett was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with strangling and then hiding the body of Robert “Bonzai” Bee in a wooded area off Illinois Route 29.

During the initial appearance, Brackett requested the court address her as a woman.

The charges — murder and concealment of a homicidal death — allege that Brackett asphyxiated the boy and then hid his remains in a wooded area of property he was maintaining.

Brackett, who was recently paroled from the Illinois Department of Corrections, was arrested Wednesday morning and served with the warrants.

The first-degree murder charges carry a possible 20 to 60-year prison term. The concealment of a homicide carries a possible 10-year prison term.

Prosecutors have asked Presiding Judge Chris Doscotch to order Brackett held pending the outcome of the allegations. However, Public Defender Luke Taylor said his office wasn’t ready to proceed on that hearing on Thursday.

Taylor said there were around 4,000 pages of discovery—evidence—that would be delivered to his office after the hearing.

As such, Taylor said his office would allow Brackett to concede detention without prejudice, meaning she could come back at another time and ask to be released. That’s an important legal distinction. Once a detention is ordered, a person can only contest it if new evidence is presented.

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OpenAI Supports Illinois Bill to Limit AI Companies’ Liability for Mass Casualty Incidents, Financial Disasters

OpenAI is backing an Illinois state bill that would protect AI companies from legal responsibility when their technology contributes to severe societal harms, including mass deaths or catastrophic financial losses.

Wired reports that the ChatGPT maker has testified in favor of Illinois Senate Bill 3444, legislation that would shield frontier AI developers from liability for critical harms caused by their models under certain conditions. The bill represents what several AI policy experts describe as a notable evolution in OpenAI’s legislative approach, which until now had focused primarily on opposing measures that would increase liability for AI companies.

SB 3444 would define critical harms as incidents causing death or serious injury to 100 or more people, or at least $1 billion in property damage. Under the proposed law, AI labs would be protected from liability as long as they did not intentionally or recklessly cause such an incident and had published safety, security, and transparency reports on their websites. The bill defines frontier models as those trained using more than $100 million in computational costs, a threshold that would likely apply to major American AI company including OpenAI, Google, xAI, Anthropic, and Meta.

The legislation specifically identifies several scenarios of concern to the AI industry, including the use of AI by malicious actors to develop chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons. It also covers situations where an AI model independently engages in conduct that would constitute a criminal offense if committed by a human, provided such actions lead to the extreme outcomes defined in the bill.

Jamie Radice, an OpenAI spokesperson, said in an emailed statement: “We support approaches like this because they focus on what matters most: Reducing the risk of serious harm from the most advanced AI systems while still allowing this technology to get into the hands of the people and businesses—small and big—of Illinois. They also help avoid a patchwork of state-by-state rules and move toward clearer, more consistent national standards.”

Caitlin Niedermeyer, a member of OpenAI’s Global Affairs team, delivered testimony supporting the bill and echoed the call for federal AI regulation. Her arguments aligned with the Trump administration’s opposition to inconsistent state-level AI safety laws. Niedermeyer emphasized the importance of avoiding what she called “a patchwork of inconsistent state requirements that could create friction without meaningfully improving safety.” She also suggested that state laws can be valuable when they “reinforce a path toward harmonization with federal systems.”

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Democrat Former Illinois Mayor Urges State Leaders to Accept President Trump’s Help on Rampant Crime After Her Father is Shot

After a tenure mired in controversy, former Dalton, Illinois, Mayor Tiffany Henyward is back in the news.

This time, she is urging Governor JB Pritzker (D) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to accept President Trump’s help in tackling rampant crime in the state.

The plea comes after her father was shot in the neck.

ABC7 reports:

The shooting happened around 5:54 p.m. Wednesday in the 1300 block South Kedzie Avenue in North Lawndale, Chicago police said.

A 65-year-old man was in an alley when he was shot in the neck, CPD said. He was taken to a hospital in serious condition.

Henyard confirmed to ABC7 Thursday that her father was the victim in the shooting.

Henyard shared a statement on Facebook, noting, “Although I am deeply saddened to have to address this issue, I want to begin by sincerely thanking everyone for the calls, messages, and prayers.  During this incredibly difficult time, your support has meant more than words can express.”

“Yes, it is true, my family has been directly affected by the senseless gun violence that continues to plague Illinois. Yesterday, my father, my hero was an innocent victim of this random and heartbreaking violence. This tragedy has shaken my family to its core, and unfortunately, it reflects a reality that far too many families across our state are facing.”

“This devastating moment only further highlights what many of us already know, and shouldn’t be ignored: the ongoing gun violence in the City of Chicago has made too many of our communities feel unsafe. It reinforces the urgent need for stronger action and meaningful solutions.”

“I urge Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson to seriously reconsider federal assistance from President Donald J. Trump to help address this crisis and better protect the residents of Illinois, particularly in Chicago. Across the country, communities that have welcomed federal support have experienced measurable reductions in crime. Cities such as Memphis, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans, Louisiana during the 2026 Mardi Gras period have all seen positive outcomes through collaborative efforts.”

“The difference between Illinois and those other states is simple, their leadership chose collaboration, and that collaboration produced results.”

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Pritzker Blames Trump Following Murder of Loyola University Student by Illegal Alien

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) blamed President Trump following the murder of Loyola University student by an illegal alien.

Another innocent young American woman was murdered by one of Joe Biden’s illegal aliens in the sanctuary state of Democrat-run Illinois.

Very early Thursday morning, 18-year-old Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman was shot and killed near campus in Chicago.

A masked gunman approached a group of students walking in Rogers Park and opened fire.

Gorman was shot in the head and died at the scene.

On Sunday it was confirmed that the masked gunman who killed Gorman is a 25-year-old illegal alien from Venezuela who entered the US under the Biden Regime.

The Department of Homeland Security blasted the Biden Regime and Pritzker.

“Sheridan Gorman had her whole life ahead of her before this cold-blooded killer decided to end her life. She was failed by open border policies and sanctuary politicians who RELEASED this illegal alien TWICE before he went on to commit this heinous murder,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.

“We are calling on Governor Pritzker and Chicago’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods,” the DHS said.

Pritzker blamed President Trump following the murder of Sheridan Gorman.

“I agree there have been real failures. Those failures, of course, extend beyond the borders of Illinois. They are national failures,” Pritzker said blaming Trump.

“A failure to have comprehensive immigration reform. A failure of the president to follow his own edict to go after the worst of the worst,” he said.

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Elderly Leftist Couple ARRESTED for Vandalizing Republican Office in Illinois

The “tolerant” left is at it again, and this time, it’s coming from the “Golden Years” crowd.

Two elderly leftists in Arlington Heights, Illinois, have been arrested and charged after a months-long investigation into the disgusting vandalism of the Republicans of Wheeling Township headquarters.

According to the Arlington Heights Police Department, 72-year-old Brock McNerney and 69-year-old Moisette McNerney were taken into custody on Monday in connection with the defacement of the headquarters last January.

The pair now face misdemeanor charges of criminal damage to property and criminal defacement of property under Illinois law. Authorities say the arrests were made without incident, and the suspects were released pending their initial court appearance.

ABC7 Chicago reported:

Surveillance video from the late evening hours of Jan. 25 shows a couple, a man in glasses and a woman, both dressed in black, drawing explicit words and what ABC7 Chicago has been told were several Nazi symbols over the face of Charlie Kirk on the windows in Arlington Heights.

“Charlie Kirk was born in Arlington Heights, and he actually had come through our doors; so, he was initially started off with our organization. So, we’re really kind of deeply saddened to see that,” Deputy Committeeman John Saletta said.

The Republicans of Wheeling Township Office said the alleged vandals drew antisemitic symbols on their building.

Saletta said they put up surveillance cameras after their building was previously vandalized in December.

“It’s obviously highly offensive, and we’re better than this,” Saletta said. “I think that as a nation, you know, we can resolve our differences through dialogue. That’s what Charlie was all about.”

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Illinois Cop Fired Over Trying to Help ICE with Social Media Post 

The city of Elgin, Illinois, has terminated a police officer following an internal investigation into a social media post that referenced federal immigration enforcement.

City officials announced that Officer Jason Lentz was fired after an independent review determined he engaged in misconduct tied to a post made in October.

Lentz had been placed on administrative leave after Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley became aware of the post and initiated an investigation.

According to the city, the post included a reference to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and listed locations where the officer sarcastically suggested agents should not conduct enforcement.

The message read, “If I were ICE, I wouldn’t check…” followed by a series of locations.

Lentz included comments alongside each suggestion, such as “definitely none there” and “there’s no way you’d find any there.”

The post also tagged the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

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Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker Demands $8.6B in Tariff Refunds from Trump

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) demanded that President Donald Trump give the people of the state a total of $8.6 billion in refunds after the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

In a letter addressed to Trump that Pritzker posted to X, Pritzker described Trump’s tariffs as having “wreaked havoc on farmers,” having “enraged our allies,” and increased the cost of groceries.

Pritzker explained that he was demanding “a refund of $1,700 for every family” in the state, and that because there were roughly 5,105,448 households in the state, the total came to $8,679,261,600.

“Your tariffs wreaked havoc on farmers, enraged our allies, and sent grocery prices through the roof,” Pritzker wrote. “This morning, your hand-picked Supreme Court Justices notified you that they are also unconstitutional.”

Pritzker added: “On behalf of the people of Illinois, I demand a refund of $1,700 for every family in Illinois. There are 5,105,448 households in my state, bringing the total damages you owe to $8,679,261,600.”

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Not Just California: Washington State and Illinois Eyeing Millionaire Taxes

Even as billionaires flee California to escape a potential wealth tax, proposals to raise taxes on millionaires are advancing in Washington state and Illinois.

Legislation to impose a new 9.9 percent tax on income above $1 million a year advanced this week in Olympia, Wash., passing the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The Evergreen State currently has a tax on capital gains and a 0.58 percent payroll tax dedicated to funding long-term care insurance, but no other tax on ordinary income.

The governor of Washington, Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, has largely backed the tax increase, saying he would use the revenues to increase spending on K-12 education. The Washington Education Association, the teachers’ union, lists “[t]ax the ultra-rich” as its top legislative priority. The state is already in the top 10 in the nation in per-student spending, but in the bottom 10 in the nation in demographically adjusted results on standardized tests.

The Tax Foundation has warned that “the proposed tax would yield a top rate of more than 18 percent in Seattle when combined with two Seattle wage taxes and a statewide uncapped payroll tax, making it the highest rate on wage income in the country.”

“Fundamentally, whatever its finer points, this is a high-rate income tax in a state that already imposes aggressive taxes on businesses,” the Tax Foundation said. “With this legislation, Washington would double down on being a high-tax state, particularly for businesses and for some of its most mobile taxpayers.”

Meanwhile, in Illinois, the Illinois Federation of Teachers is planning to descend on the state capitol in Springfield on Feb. 17 for its annual lobby day. The union says it will give the state’s governor, Democrat J.B. Pritzker, a letter touting “Massachusetts’ early results from its millionaire’s tax.” In a Jan. 14 statement, Stacy Davis Gates, who is president of both the Chicago Teachers Union and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, also cited the Bay State example, writing, “Massachusetts’s 4% surtax on millionaires generated nearly $6B billion for public services since its passage — Illinois can do the same.”

Massachusetts has been struggling with an exodus since its millionaires tax went into effect in 2023. Even Cape Cod Potato Chips left the state, and the Wall Street Journal devoted an entire recent article to the collapse of Boston’s luxury condo market.

A former governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, a Democrat who served from 2009 to 2015, has been pushing a plan to add a 3 percent surtax for millionaires on top of the state’s existing 4.95 percent flat rate. The Illinois Policy Institute warns that the state already “has one of the highest total effective tax rates in the nation and the highest in the Midwest,” and that the existing high taxes are one reason the state is losing population.

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Illinois City Issues $25,000 in Cash to Black Residents for Reparations

More than a million dollars will soon be doled out to black residents of Evanston, Illinois, under the city’s reparations program.

Evanston’s Reparations Committee announced last week that 44 people will be getting $25,000 each, for a total of $1.1 million, according to the Chicago Tribune.

All 44 are descendants of individuals who qualify under the city’s program that pays out reparations to black residents who claimed they experienced housing discrimination between 1919 and 1969.

The payments are intended to be used for housing expenses, Cynthia Vargas, Evanston’s communications and community engagement manager, said.

Through Jan. 31, the city has received $276,588 for the Reparations Fund from its real estate transfer tax. The city’s Cannabis Retailers Occupation Tax, which by state edict does not share amounts, also kicks in to the fund.

No private donations have been reported to fund the program.

To keep the cash flowing, the city is debating putting a tax on Delta-8 THC products such as gummies or vapes.

Second Ward Councilmember Krissie Harris noted that the city is not holding back on cash to those who qualify, but it has to wait until it has the revenue to spend.

Evanston made history by being the first city to pass a reparations plan.

It set a goal of handing out $10 million over a decade to black residents, according to Fox News.

Judicial Watch has sued the city over the program, saying it violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

In its lawsuit, Judicial Watch argued that the “program’s use of a race-based eligibility requirement is presumptively unconstitutional, and remedying societal discrimination is not a compelling government interest.”

“Nor has remedying discrimination from as many as 105 years ago or remedying intergenerational discrimination ever been recognized as a compelling government interest,” the lawsuit said.

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Pritzker’s “Blind” Trust and $20B in Taxpayer Contracts Raise Waste, Fraud and Abuse Questions

Illinois taxpayers are being asked to believe a fairy tale.

They are told that Gov. JB Pritzker’s massive personal fortune sits inside a “blind trust,” safely sealed off from the decisions of the state government. But the numbers tell a different story – one that is becoming impossible to ignore.

Since Pritzker took office in 2019, companies tied to his blind trust have received more than $20 billion in Illinois state contracts, all paid for with taxpayer money.

That is not blindness. That is precision.

A blind trust is supposed to prevent conflicts of interest, not repeatedly intersect with state spending on a scale that dwarfs most state budgets. Yet under Pritzker, taxpayer-funded contracts continue to flow to companies within his financial orbit – healthcare giants, Medicaid contractors, and corporate entities deeply embedded in Springfield’s lobbying culture.

This is not a one-off coincidence. It is a pattern – and patterns are what expose systems.

Illinois has lived under one-party Democratic rule for years. When competition disappears and oversight weakens, corruption doesn’t need to hide. It operates in plain sight, wrapped in legal language and dismissed as “normal.”

That same pattern extends beyond healthcare and into the Pritzker family’s hospitality empire.

Recent disclosures uncovered show that more than $180 million in taxpayer-funded renovations and upgrades have flowed to the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place since 2011.

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