The Spin newsletter
Watchdog finds ex-Illinois Rep. Harry Benton violated law with sexual harassment, third victim revealed • Justice Department drops criminal case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool
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The Spin

Friday, July 31, 2026

Gov. JB Pritzker says the Trump’s halting of Brandon Road carp project an attack on Great Lakes water

The Pritzker administration said it had asked the federal government to reverse its July 24 work stoppage order at the Brandon Road Interbasin Project in Joliet.

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Watchdog finds ex-Illinois Rep. Harry Benton violated law with sexual harassment, third victim revealed

Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey’s report still left unanswered key questions about how Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch handled allegations first raised by a staffer for ex-state Rep. Harry Benton three years ago.

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Justice Department drops criminal case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool

Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that information provided since the indictment of David Hearn shows that the damage was the result of a “flawed installation by the contractor.”

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Gov. JB Pritzker signs law aimed at protecting kids from social media algorithms

The law mandates parents to input their child’s age when a device is set up. Social media companies must show kids content from people they follow or accounts they search.

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Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth question FAA flight caps at O’Hare

Illinois U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are pushing back on the federal government’s decision to limit flights at O’Hare International Airport for more than a year.

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CAIR, a Muslim nonprofit, gets a terrorism label in Florida and Texas

CAIR is challenging the Texas and Florida terror designations in court, arguing that they violate its rights to free speech, assembly and due process.

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Indiana Senate President Bray won’t seek re-election to leadership post

Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray announced Friday he won’t seek reelection to serve as Senate leader amid ongoing acrimony by Republicans who blame Bray for the failure of a mid-cycle redistricting effort last winter.

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Hamas says it will disarm if Israel halts strikes and withdraws from Gaza, but obstacles remain

Hamas said Friday that it will begin disarming as part of a deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump that also requires Israel to end its strikes and withdraw from Gaza. It marks a potential breakthrough in ending the war, but implementation faces major challenges.

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