You Can Be Anything

The question of the day comes from the CLC Electrical Engineering exam: How many people appointed to State Senate seat in District 26 does it take to screw in a light bulb?

HaHa, trick question. There isn't anyone appointed to the District 26 State Senate seat. Not if you believe the opinion of some District 26 Republicans:

Barrington Hills Trustee Darby Hills' appointment to a vacant state Senate seat should be nullified because she doesn't meet the state's definition of a Republican, a lawsuit filed Tuesday argues.
McConchie's would-be successor isn't a Republican and can't serve, lawsuit alleges

Illinois Senate Republicans were quick to defend their newest appointee: "Of course she is a  Republican. It's not like she was the President of Barbieland or something. Now, bet your bottom dollar the President of Barbieland is not a Republican. But our new State Senator is no President of Barbieland!"

President Barbie	District 26 State Senator
Are you tickled pink by this hilarious LakeCountyEye Double Vision®?

Lawyer Ken was unavailable for comment.

Succession 2.0

Precisely as predicted by your LakeCountyEye ...

Succession

Martin McLaughlin was chosen to serve the remainder of former State Senator Dan McConchie's term.

Backbench State Rep Martin McLaughlin was indeed chosen, but with one asterisk. That asterisk being Darby Hills was chosen to serve out the term:

Barrington Hills trustee to fill McConchie’s seat representing Illinois’ 26th Senate District

Who is Darby Hills? Nobody knows.

One IL GOP spokesman said: "We couldn't very well pick Marty McLaughlin, not after the LakeCountyEye had predicted just that."

A spokesman for your LakeCountyEye said: "HaHa, Psych!"

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Border?

Note to Ops: Don't try that trick where you get more soda by ordering it with no ice. That's because ICE is coming to the restaurant whether you want it or not:

Restaurant workers prepare as ICE arrests cast fear, uncertainty over industry

As readers of this blog are aware, there will be a new Chick-fil-A® coming to Waukegan ...

In the Fast Food Lane

And while it hasn't even been built yet, the restaurant already was raided by ICE. The Chick-fil-A Cows® along with Doodles the Chicken® were seen being hustled away in handcuffs:

UPDATE ...

ICE has issued a response to inquiries from your LakeCountyEye. The Chick-fil-A Cows® have been deported back to their place of origin, a meat packing plant in Iowa. While ICE reports it has "lost track" of Doodles the Chicken®, pointing to a "missing paperwork" problem.

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Succession

Not since the Papal Conclave of 1605 that ended with a brawl and Cardinal Visconti acquiring several broken bones, has the appointment of a successor to high office been more ardently anticipated. Your LakeCountyEye of course refers to the replacement of already Ex-State Senator Dan McConchie:

Notice of Meeting for 26th Legislative District Committee

Do you have the chops to represent Senate District 26? Do not delay, the application deadline is Friday, February 7:

Application Instructions for State Senator for the 26th Legislative District:

So, who will be the next State Senator to the 26th? Nobody knows.

Except he will be backbench State Rep Martin McLaughlin.

And soon after that, McLaughlin will resign from his State Representative seat.

And after some decent interval, they will appoint Joe Salvi to replace McLaughlin.

The End.

Nepo Baby

Anti-choice, Ex-State Senator Dan McConchie is not shy when it comes to telling the IL GOP who they should choose to succeed him in the Senate:

"I want to make clear my full, complete, unequivocal endorsement for Joe Salvi to be my replacement in the Illinois Senate," said McConchie, according to Facebook. "He is exactly who we need in Springfield right now."
State Sen. Dan McConchie: Joe Salvi has 'my full, complete, unequivocal endorsement'

Who is Joe Salvi? Nobody knows. One thing is known, Joe Salvi is not backbench State Rep Martin McLaughlin. Much to his chagrin, McLaughlin thinks McLaughlin is entitled to the seat, and not Salvi:

McLaughlin criticized the perceived back room dealing if McConchie were actively attempting to put Salvi in his seat and threatened to primary Salvi if appointed. "This raises concerns about nepotism and insider politics, issues that Republicans have rightly criticized Democrats for engaging in," McLaughlin wrote. "I want to make clear that I intend to run for the Senate position in the [March] 2026 primary. I've earned the right to do through my record of election wins and job performance."
McConchie Resigning, State GOP Chair's Son Frontrunner for Seat

Joe Salvi, whoever he may be, has not spoken publicly -- further reinforcing the impression that there is more to this man of mystery than meets the eye. To get to the bottom of things, your LakeCountyEye asked the man-in-the-street: "Do you know who Joe Salvi is?"

"No"

Pete Cochran, Self-Employed Missionary

"No"

Linc Hayes, Crypto Salesman

"No"

Julie Barnes, Home Schoolmarm

The verdict s unanimous and that means one thing. Joe Salvi must be the new Republican DEI Hire!

Free Martin

The Question of the Day will test your math skills:

Q: How is freedom like a dozen large white eggs?

A: Neither one is free.

Illinois House Republican members have a Freedom Caucus. Which means two things. As its name suggests, the Freedom Caucus exemplifies a mindset of not being accountable. And, two, backbench State Rep Martin McLaughlin is a member.

It goes without saying that any such caucus will sooner or later get itself into some hot water. In the present case, the House Republicans stripped its Freedom Caucus members of their House privileges:

Being denied services are state Reps. Adam Niemerg of Dieterich, Brad Halbrook of Shelbyville, Chris Miller of Hindsboro, Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City and Marty McLaughlin of Barrington Hills.
THE BUZZ
LINES DRAWN

Sharpeyed operatives will observe that most of these are rural, downstate districts that want to secede from the State of Illinois. No doubt this new state will also need Barrington Hills for the tax revenue.

Note to Ops: McLaughlin wants to be appointed to Dan McConchie's vacated State Senate seat. This would get him out of the Illinois House Freedom Caucus. Not to mention the Illinois House.

Just Sayin!

Landslide Martin

There will be a special election to replace Dan McConchie -- and you are not invited. GOP party bosses will gather in a secret conclave to ...

choose someone to finish McConchie's term. The successor then would be able to run for election in 2026 with some legislative experience and, ideally, a healthy campaign war chest.
An 'unwavering' public servant: Republican state Sen. Dan McConchie resigning

Who will the successor be? It's no secret: he won't be you.

It is also not a secret that backbench State Rep Martin McLaughlin wants the job. He said so in a press release:

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin said Tuesday he is interested in filling the Illinois Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dan McConchie.
State Rep. McLaughlin lobbies for McConchie's Senate seat

McLaughlin says he is a powerhouse at the polls:

In my last election, I faced a $3.8 million opposition effort and still won decisively
State Rep. McLaughlin lobbies for McConchie's Senate seat

For the record, McLaughlin's "decisive" win was by a whopping 47 votes. Out of nearly 60,000 cast.  That is a difference of 0.08 percent.  A typical ICE dragnet operation has a rounding error larger than that.

To put that number in perspective, had 24 Martin McLaughlin supporters got confused on election day and voted against him, McLaughlin would have lost.

It all comes down to the party bosses who will be choosing the new State Senator. If there are fewer than 47 of them, McLaughlin may have a chance.

Gone According to Plan

Your LakeCountyEye will not have Dan McConchie to kick around any more:

Republican state Sen. Dan McConchie to resign:
'I never aspired to be an elected official'

Accidental State Senator Dan McConchie will be replaced by the winner of a special election, to be held per Illinois state law.

HaHa, j/k ...

Resigning now allows suburban Republican leaders to choose someone to finish McConchie's term. The successor then would be able to run for election in 2026 with some legislative experience and, ideally, a healthy campaign war chest. McConchie said he has spoken to possible candidates about succeeding him but didn't name names. He said he expects to formally recommend someone for the post.
An 'unwavering' public servant: Republican state Sen. Dan McConchie resigning

The soon-to-be Ex-State Senator will be replaced when GOP party bosses meet in a smokefilled room to handpick a Republican crony. The purpose of the law is to ensure that a highly qualified candidate is selected to represent the voters of the Senate District! HaHa, j/k again.

In related news, backbench State Representative Martin McLaughlin.

In the Fast Food Lane

The Question of the Day will test your knowledge of local habits and customs:

Q: In Waukegan they consume their Chick-fil-A^® Nuggets direct from the sack. Why?

A: To grease their palms.

HaHa, there will be a new Chick-fil-A^® coming to Waukegan:

Chick-fil-A will be able to open a restaurant where it wants in Waukegan, but not before a narrow City Council vote and the objections of two multinational corporations which will flank the planned eatery. Before it can build its restaurant on the southeast corner of Northpoint Boulevard and Waukegan Road, across from the Fountain Square shopping center, Chick-fil-A needed a zoning change and other modifications from the city
Waukegan endorses controversial location for Chick-fil-A; 'Why are we willing to bend ... (so) you can have the competitive advantage?'

Any way you look at it, there are some ruffled feathers in Waukegan:

allowing the zoning change gives Chick-fil-A a competitive advantage over more than a dozen restaurants operating on the west side of Waukegan Road which comply with the zoning requirements there.
Waukegan endorses controversial location for Chick-fil-A; 'Why are we willing to bend ... (so) you can have the competitive advantage?'

One confederate offered an olive branch as a conciliatory gesture: "We have decided to not compete on a full seven day schedule  We have obtained authorization to close the restaurant on Sundays."

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Growing Tree Preschool Open House

Growing Tree Preschool Open House – Hunt Club

Growing Tree Preschool Open House – Viking Park

A Footnote

It was reported here that the McHenry County Man Who Shot Himself in the Foot had been enrolled in a 12-step program. That is incorrect. In fact, the McHenry County Man Who Shot Himself in the Foot is enrolled in a 6-step program.

Your LakeCountyEye regrets the error.

Viking Park Master Plan Community Input Meeting

Viking Park Master Plan Community Input Meeting

McHenry County Man Shoots Self in the Foot

The McHenry County Man who shot himself in the foot shot himself in the foot:

Man flown to hospital after accidentally shooting himself in Oakwood Hills

Coming up next week: The McHenry County Man who shot himself in the foot shoots himself in the foot.

Turn Over a New Leaf

Did you hear the one about the Christmas tree farmer who went bankrupt after they built a cannabis dispensary next-door? They broke in and smoked up all of his inventory. HaHa.

In related news, you can dispose your old Christmas tree at a Lake County Forest Preserve:

Trees can be deposited at Grant Woods in Ingleside, the Greenbelt Forest Preserve in North Chicago, Half Day Forest Preserve in Vernon Hills, Heron Creek Forest Preserve in Long Grove, Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda, Old School Forest Preserve in Mettawa, Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods and Van Patten Woods.
From your living room to forest preserve trail; Lake County Christmas trees to be recycled

Residents are asked not to dump trees at the Waukegan Airport -- not before the airport has legally seized the Forest Preserve land.

Is it too late for stocking stuffers?  It is in Mundelein.  Residents there are unable to find a single car air freshener anywhere within their Village limits -- every one has been bought off the shelves. In related news ...

The smell of raw cannabis is grounds for police to search a vehicle, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
Police may search a vehicle based on the smell of raw cannabis, Illinois Supreme Court rules

Nothing more to see here. Make like a tree and leave.

Mob FOIA

With 2024 soon to be a thing of the past, your year-end challenge this time is a word-ladder. Can you turn FOIA into SPAM in fewer than 6 steps?

FOIA
FOIL
FOAL
FOAM
FLAM
SLAM
SPAM

The Lake County Gazette did it in 25 steps. They spammed no fewer than 25 Lake Count Police Departments with FOIA requests:

Here is what they said:

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the [redacted] Police Department in Illinois on December 12, 2024. The request was made by the Lake County Gazette, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. In our quest for transparency and accountability, we sought access to arrest records from January 1, 2018, up until the present date. The requested data fields include the arrestee's name, arrest date, gender, race, date of birth, and the crime committed.

We also highlighted our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional due to our role in disseminating information.

Why burden Police Departments with nuisance FOIAs, when most police blotters are already posted on the web? Because the Lake County Gazette.

Note to Ops: A public body can deny a FOIA request if it is "unduly burdensome". It is not for nothing the Lake County Gazette will always be Lake County's #1 fakenews source!