Happy Thursday, Illinois. Sen. Dick Durbin fumed about Major League Baseball’s lockout, and suggested it was time to “reconsider” MLB’s antitrust exemption.

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan pleaded not guilty to corruption charges yesterday, while Democrats tied themselves into knots over the fallout. (More on the court hearing below.)

Nine House reps backpedaled on their request to freeze projects that Madigan had added as line items in the 2019 Rebuild Illinois budget.

In a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker, and obtained by Playbook, the lawmakers said they “now have a better understanding” of the process, are confident the budget items were vetted, and realize that the projects benefit communities of Latino Caucus members. “We stand behind their need to get these projects finished,” according to the letter headed by Rep. Ann Williams.

Questions about the budget arose when the Better Government Association referred to the budget process as being “largely shrouded in secrecy.” Line items are a regular part of the budget with each lawmaker, Democrat and Republican alike, including line-item projects. Leadership can include line-items, too, often to the benefit of members of their caucus. (There are routinely battles over "pork" in Congress too that cut across party lines. Some lawmakers lambast how obscure funding lines suddenly appear while defenders of the process make two points: Who in a legislature knows their district better than those representing it? And, abdicating on line items would mean deferring too much of the process to the executive branch.)

Amid concerns about the items, Williams and the eight other lawmakersdashed a letter to Pritzker on Monday calling on him to freeze the four development projects that Madigan had listed.

The governor responded in kind and stopped the projects, which made for a good headline — but the line items were programs important to Latino communities.

The backlash was fierce. Some Latino Caucus members sent letters to Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, saying their communities depended on those projects.

The two sides spent much of Wednesday in meetings trying to resolve their concerns before emerging after 10 p.m. Williams’ team then asked Pritzker to take back the freeze.

The internal strife signals that Democrats haven’t quite come to terms with the Madigan indictment. As much as some might want to, it will be impossible for Democrats to extricate themselves from everything Madigan touched anytime soon. This situation revealed a couple things: There was a logic to what happened behind Madigan’s curtain (the projects didn’t appear out of nowhere) but controlling so much has left others in his own party still finding their way out of the dark. He’s their scarlet letter, a boss who led their caucus and party, helped get them elected and crafted legislation — like it or not.

MORE MADIGAN MATTERS

— MADIGAN ON BRAND: “In his nearly four decades atop Illinois’ political power structure, former House Speaker Michael Madigan was well-known for his aversion to talking on the phone. His arraignment Wednesday on federal corruption charges was no different. Madigan didn’t say a word,” by Tribune’s Jason Meisner and Ray Long.

— The Madigan indictment puts a new focus on how Chicago aldermen govern: “The details of the indictment have renewed the mayor’s push to do away with the unwritten practice of so-called aldermanic prerogative. That’s the long-standing tradition in City Hall that says the local alderman gets final say over decisions in their wards,” by WBEZ’s Becky Vevea.

— Former speaker accused of helping his son win business by hitting up Ald. Solis: “While Madigan’s family member was not identified by name in the indictment last week, the Sun-Times has learned it is his son, Andrew,” by Sun-Times’ Mark Brown, Tim Novak, and Jon Seidel.

— How he maintained an iron grip for four decades, by Lee Enterprise’s Brenden Moore.

Former state Rep. Diane Pappas was appointed last night to the state Senate seat vacated by Tom Cullerton, who stepped down before pleading guilty in an embezzlement case.

Pappas was a natural choice because of her experience working in the House. She was elected in 2018 but lost in 2020. Pappas has worked as in-house counsel for companies over the years. And she has an interesting personal story: Pappas’ family immigrated to the U.S. from Communist Poland.

DuPage Democratic Party Chair Ken Mejia-Beal said Pappas has “championed for working-class families in every vote she cast” and that her “integrity” shows in her votes and her work.

Also applying were Robert Wagner, Donna Limper, and Laurie Nowak who are all active in their communities though we don’t know much more given the selection process happened so quickly and with little public comment — the candidates spoke for two minutes last night via Zoom.

Critics say it seems the fix was in, even if Pappas already has the General Assembly qualifications to do the job.

Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: [email protected]

No official public events.

At Whitney Young High School at 9:30 a.m. for the pre-state pep rally.

Joining in at 10 a.m. on the virtual Peggy A. Montes Unsung Heroine Awards.

— Ready to die? Why most people flunk the Zelenskyy test: “Tyranny has triumphed in recent years because real courage is rare,” by POLITICO’s John F. Harris.

— White House sweats over its growing entanglement in Ukraine: “Vladimir Putin is warning the U.S. and its allies not to engage in direct "acts of war" against Russia. For the Biden administration, that means weighing every move ever more carefully,” by POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi

— Illinois House Republican legislation supports Ukrainian refugees, by Tom Katz of Illinois News Now

— Administrator of state-run developmentally disabled center accused of obstructing investigation: “Prosecutor alleges he accessed confidential documents in attempt to derail State Police investigation,” by Capitol News’ Beth Hundsdorfer.

— ‘Ghost network’ haunts affordable access to health care: “Cancer patients, pregnant mothers, and other patients in dire search of medical attention face higher costs, longer wait times, farther distances, and have to navigate a dead-end directory of doctors that, in many cases, do not exist before they can schedule their first appointment with a specialist in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network,” by WCIA’s Mark Maxwell and Renée Cooper.

— Illinois residents worried about growing teacher shortage during Covid-19 pandemic, poll finds, by Tribune’s Karen Ann Cullotta

— Cool For The Summer: Demi Lovato has been added to the concert series at the Illinois State Fair. She’ll take the stage on Aug. 13.

— Illinois moves closer to remedying racial bias in home appraisals: “A bill that would create a task force to look into what many believe is a pattern of low-balling appraised values of Black-owned homes passed the Illinois House and is in front of the Senate,” by Crain’s Dennis Rodkin.

— Bipartisan request: A resolution that urges Congress to pass legislation allowing Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation to secure land in southern DeKalb has some interesting bipartisan support. Democratic state Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas of Chicago and Republican state Rep. Tom Demmer of Dixon are co-sponsoring the resolution. The goal is to replace an existing 1,280 acres of land the government seized and sold in the 1840s. Potawatomi Nation has been working for years to reclaim the reservation, which is recognized as Indian Country.

— Legislation to clarify tollway chairman’s duties passes Senate, by Daily Herald’s Marni Pyke

— It’s the final call to apply for the City Council position open in the 11th Ward. “Do you live in Bridgeport, Armour Square, New City, Chinatown, or the near & lower West Side? Do you have a passion for public service? Have you lived in this area for at least one year?” Mayor Lori Lightfoot tweeted. The seat opened up when former Ald. Patrick Thompson had to exit because he was found guilty on federal tax charges. Tomorrow is the deadline to apply

— Search for Chicago’s next inspector general is down to two: “One finalist is Deborah Witzburg, former deputy inspector general for public safety. But Witzburg was chosen by and worked closely with former Inspector General Joe Ferguson, with whom the mayor clashed repeatedly,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman

— Top cop says he made call to pull officers from street after heroin bust involving internal affairs chief’s car: “Supt. David Brown on Wednesday said the cops were moved from their normal assignments ‘until we fully understand the conduct of every officer involved,’” by Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba, Frank Main, and Josephine Stratman.

— Police officers, guards will be added along CTA train and bus lines amid uptick in violent crime: “While CPD patrols and interventions are a key part of the agency’s safety strategy, CTA President Dorval Carter said unarmed security guards can serve as deterrents and defuse potentially dangerous situations. He added that the new guards will begin showing up within the next few weeks, and when they do, they’ll be operating around the clock, seven days a week,” Matt Masterson and Nick Blumberg.

— Friends of the Parks puts chips on the table in Chicago casino sweepstakes: “In a letter to supporters and contributors, Friends of the Parks Executive Director Juanita Irizarry made a point-by-point argument for why the plan by casino magnate Neil Bluhm was the best of five competing proposals,” by Sun-Times’ Fran Spielman and David Roeder.

— From relief to frustration: Chicago Public Schools parents react to mask mandate’s expected end — and another possible teachers union standoff, by Tribune’s Olivia Olander

— CPS parent’s death was not from Covid-19, despite CTU’s claim, by WGN 9’s Ben Bradley.

— Lane Tech football field to be renamed after Black Hall of Famer Fritz Pollard, by Chicago Defender

— AFT President Randi Weingarten joins striking Proviso teachers on the picket line: “Weingarten questioned why district officials are unable to meet the teachers’ demands for better pay, despite the influx of federal pandemic relief funds, which in Illinois adds up to roughly $7 billion,” by Tribune’s Karen Ann Cullotta.

— A $100K Bentley among 14 luxury cars stolen from Evanston dealership: ‘I’m still in shock with my showroom being empty,’ by Pioneer Press’ Brian Cox

— Skokie gives final approval to extra 1% tax on Old Orchard purchases to rejuvenate ‘blighted’ upscale mall, by Pioneer Press’ Brian Cox

— A few intraparty fights on tap in key Lake County legislature races: “Sam Yingling of Grayslake, who has represented the 62nd House District since 2013, and Mary Edly-Allen of Libertyville, who represented the 51st House District for one term will face off in the primary. Republican Adam Solano of Third Lake also filed Monday,” reports Daily Herald’s Doug Graham.

— Another Republican slate: A group called We Are the People Illinois, which says it was formed “to investigate the fraud in the 2020 election, has pulled together a slate of Republican candidates for statewide offices. The slate is headed by Emily Johnson, who says, “I have never waivered. I have always stood by Trump.”

— Karin Norington-Reaves, who’s running for the open 1st Congressional seat, has been endorsed by Democrats Serve, which backs Dems who work in public service. Norington-Reaves worked as a former public school teacher, staff attorney at the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, and trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice before having positions in Cook County.

— Anna Valencia has been endorsed by Democratic Party leaders in Sangamon, Jersey and Scott counties in her bid for secretary of state.

— Chelsea Laliberte Barnes, Democratic candidate for state representative in IL-51, has been endorsed by Congressman Brad Schneider

— Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller has secured 50 high profile backers in her re-election bid, including Sen. Dick Durbin and Reps. Danny Davis and Robin Kelly. Full list

‘It was enormous’: Leader of massive sports gambling ring sentenced to 18 months in federal prison: “Orland Park businessman Vincent Del Giudice has been a bookie for most of his adult life, but it was a collaboration with an illegal offshore website that shot his sports gambling operation into the stratosphere, federal prosecutors say,” by Tribune’s Jason Meisner.

We asked what political ad you’ll never forget: “Woman, pool hall, brilliant!” is how Gail Morse described Dawn Clark Netsch’s straight-shooter ad that is credited with her winning the Democratic primary for governor in 1994. … Jim Anderson and Timothy Thomas can’t forget “the racially charged” ad by Bernard Epton’s campaign in the 1983 mayoral race against Harold Washington that ran the tagline: "Epton for Mayor, before it’s too late.”… Bill Hogan and Bob Skolnik: Ronald Reagan’s Morning in America ad. …Jim Nowlan, Robert Christie, Dave Dahl, Steve Weiss and John Straus all mentioned Lyndon Johnson’s Girl In the Daisy Field….

Lisa Schneider Fabes has “never gotten” Rod Blagojevich’s negative ads against Republican challenger Judy Baar Topinka that ask "What’s she thinking?" …Warren Silver remembers the ad that catapulted “the late, great” Sen. Paul Wellstone past incumbent Minnesota Sen. Rudy Boschwitz. … John Lopez remembers former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppart’s "Empty Suit" ad. … And Thomas Day points to this little diddy, saying, “They don’t make attack ads like they used to.”

Where have you fallen asleep where you shouldn’t have? Email [email protected]

— House Dems clear $1.5T spending deal after stripping Covid aid, by POLITTICO’s Sarah Ferris, Nicholas Wu, and Jennifer Scholtes

— Local election officials are exhausted, under threat and thinking about quitting, by POLITICO’s Zach Montellaro

— A boost for Cheney: Crossover voting will remain in Wyoming after party affiliation bill dies in Legislature, via Casper Star-Tribune

WEDNESDAY’s ANSWER: Congrats to Ald. Jason Ervin for correctly answering that there are 11 streets named after mayors of Chicago.

They are Busse Avenue (Fred A. Busse), Cermak Road (Anton Cermak), Cregier Avenue (DeWitt Clinton Cregier), Haines Street (John C. Haines), Heath Avenue (Monroe Heath), Mason Avenue (Roswell B. Mason), Medill Avenue (Joseph Medill), Ogden Avenue (William Ogden), Rice Street (John B. Rice), Rumsey Avenue (Julian S. Rumsey), Wentworth Avenue (John Wentworth).

TODAY’s QUESTION: Who did Mayor Richard J. Daley verbally attack on the eve of two elections and why? Email [email protected]

Bettylu Saltzman, the veteran Democratic fundraiser who Barack Obama has credited with helping him get his start (she turns 90!), state Rep. Blaine Wilhour, restaurateur Manolis Alpogianis, CKL Engineering CEO Mae Williams, relationship expert Bela Gandhi, PR pro John Youngren and belated candles for PR pro Eileen Boyce who celebrated Tuesday.

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