Illinois
Illinois politicians divided: Here's who has and hasn't endorsed VP Kamala Harris
ILLINOIS – Several Illinois politicians are divided on whether Vice President Kamala Harris should be the Democratic presidential nominee after President Joe Biden announced that he will not seek reelection.
Biden shared his decision on social media Sunday afternoon and gave his endorsement to Harris.
Biden drops out of 2024 presidential race, endorses Kamala Harris
Gov. JB Pritzker, Sen. Dick Durbin and a few others haven’t voiced their support for Harris. However, some have already endorsed her.
Here are the Illinois politicians who have endorsed Harris:
Rep. Delia Ramirez:
“We must defeat Donald Trump. VP Kamala Harris is the proven, qualified leader ready to move our country forward. She has my endorsement. I look forward to working with her to realize a permanent ceasefire, immigration reform, and a bold agenda that centers working families.
“We must unite to defeat Project 2025 and Donald Trump’s extremist and hateful agenda. A second Trump presidency is an existential threat and we must do everything in our power to protect our democratic institutions.
“President Biden has led us through some of our darkest times. He is a statesman that has put our country and democracy first. I thank him for having the courage to do so again today.”
Rep. Brad Scheider:
“Now, we must come together, build on the legacy of the Biden administration and show voters that Democrats up and down the ballot are improving the lives of all Americans. I’m confident that, with Vice President Kamala Harris at the helm of the Democratic ticket, we can do exactly that. We will defeat Donald Trump.”
Rep. Sean Casten:
“The coming election is a referendum on the future of American democracy. The stakes of this election could not be higher. Donald Trump remains a twice-impeached convicted felon and adjudicated rapist who has promised to be a dictator on day one. Vice President Kamala Harris will beat him this November, and I’m proud to endorse her for President of the United States.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson:
“Vice President Harris is the visionary leader that we need now to defeat the threat of another Trump presidency. She has now proven herself as a fearless defender of our democracy. I look forward to doing everything I can to ensure she becomes our next President.”
Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia:
“As we move forward, it’s crucial that we unite behind Vice President Kamala Harris and continue the progress we’ve made. Defeating the resurgence of Trumpism is essential for the future of our democracy. Thank you, President Biden, for your unwavering dedication and service to our nation.”
Rep. Robin Kelly:
“President Biden is one of the most impactful leaders of my lifetime, and he will continue to serve the American people well. In the last four years, President Biden saved our country from a pandemic, brought back our economy better than before, and passed historic legislation for working people. He defeated an extremist in 2020, and I had full confidence that he would do it again. I am heartbroken that he felt he had to step down as the nominee, and many of my constituents feel the same way.
“However, as President Biden said, now is the time to come together. The Democratic Party must unite behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee. Together, we will beat Trump.”
Here are the Illinois politicians who have not endorsed Harris:
Governor JB Pritzker:
“President Joe Biden has dedicated his life in service to this nation, and its citizens are all the better for it. His is a storied political career culminating in one of the most accomplished and effective presidencies of our lifetime. As President of the United States he led us through a recovery from a devastating pandemic and shepherded our economy away from a recession to prosperity. He worked across the aisle to pass some of the most consequential legislation in decades to rebuild our roads and bridges while investing in the infrastructure and jobs of the 21st century. Perhaps most consequentially, President Biden restored dignity to the Oval Office, bringing the statesmanship and honor that have been the hallmarks of his years of service, back to the White House.
“As we extend our gratitude to President Biden and reflect on his many accomplishments, we must not ignore the threat posed by Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House. Donald Trump is a 34 time convicted felon, adjudicated to have committed sexual assault, a racist, homophobe and misogynist. Trump brags about taking away a woman’s right to choose, wants to rip healthcare away from tens of millions of people, proposes economic policies that will cost the middle class thousands of dollars a year, and threatens the fundamental American ideals we hold dear. I will work every day to ensure that he does not win in November.”
Senator Dick Durbin:
“Throughout his public career, Joe Biden always put country first. His four years as President made it clear that he was determined to put our country back on track and restore the soul of our nation. America will be forever grateful for all he has given to this country.”
Senator Tammy Duckworth:
“No one has done more for working Americans than Joe Biden—and so many of us owe him a debt of gratitude for everything he’s done to improve our country.
“Over more than 50 years in public service, he’s built an unparalleled record of accomplishments. From helping write the Violence Against Women Act in the Senate to shepherding the Affordable Care Act into law as Vice President and from helping guide our nation out of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic to overseeing historic wage and job growth during his Presidency, Joe Biden has always put our country first and worked to change so many aspects of our lives for the better.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank him for his effective and successful leadership and for, once again, putting our country before himself. This difficult decision ensures that Democrats can focus on the goal that unites each and every one of us: defeating Donald Trump and preventing another four years of his destructive chaos and corruption.”
Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi:
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of years of lies from the Biden White House and Democrats shaming anyone who questioned the fitness of President Biden. Democrats are divided, torn apart by their own duplicity trying to pass off President Biden’s inability to fulfill his role, while Republicans stand united behind President Trump and an agenda of freedom, prosperity, and safety. Democrats have become the party of self-service while Republicans have become the voice of this nation. We as Illinois Republicans must continue to call attention to JB Pritzker’s tax-and-spend, pro-criminal agenda that drives families away from this state to protect the rest of the nation.”
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle:
“I am deeply grateful for President Biden’s unwavering and selfless commitment and service to our country. Cook County, along with this entire nation, is better and stronger because of the power of his effective leadership and policies. President Biden’s impact on our nation has been profound, far-reaching and historic.
“Your legacy is already cemented, Mr. President. Thank you, Joe Biden.”
Rep. Mike Quigley:
“President Joe Biden has been one of the most successful presidents of our lifetime. He led our nation out of the darkness of Jan. 6, oversaw our nation’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, signed into law the first gun violence prevention legislation in over 30 years, and fulfilled the promises of previous presidents by passing bipartisan infrastructure legislation. Throughout his lifetime of service, he has always put our country first.
“Today, President Biden secured his legacy by making this difficult, selfless decision. We owe him an incredible debt of gratitude.”
We’ll bring more updates to this story as they become available.
Illinois politicians react to President Biden’s decision to drop out of 2024 presidential race
After successfully pushing to change state law to help repair and replaced damaged gravestones of Illinois veterans, a Naperville woman is continuing her mission to preserve the legacies of local heroes.
Years ago, Staci Boyer, commander of the Judd Kendall VFW Post in Naperville, noticed many of the gravestones of veterans buried at Naperville Cemetery had become badly weathered and worn out, in some cases, left little more than a pile of rocks.
She wanted to have them repaired, but ran into a roadblock. State law required permission from a family member, but the damaged headstones were so old, tracking down relatives was difficult.
With the help of state lawmakers, she helped change Illinois law to give veterans’ organizations the authority to repair headstones that are at least 100 years old.
“Before the law, we wouldn’t have been able to do anything. We would’ve tried to find next of kin. We would not have found them, and then the graves would’ve stayed a pile of rock and debris,” Boyer said.
Since last summer, Boyer has raised enough money to replace five veteran headstones at Naperville Cemetery. She said all new headstones will be in place by the 4th of July.
“I’m proud of our community, you know, for feeling like this is important. People that don’t know these veterans but believe that they should be honored this way. That’s a beautiful thing,” she said.
Boyer had bricks engraved at Naperville Cemetery to honor all veterans with damaged headstones.
Illinois football coach Bret Bielema landed arguably his most significant recruit to date in two-sport athlete Nasir Rankin on Wednesday, but McHale Blade wouldn’t be too far behind on the short list.
Blade, an elite class of 2026 recruit, listed his top seven choices on Friday, as reported by 247 Sports – and Illinois made the cut.
Blade, a four-star defensive lineman from Chicago Simeon also included Wisconsin, Purdue, Stanford, USC, Michigan and Notre Dame among his top seven. The fifth-ranked player in the state of Illinois and No. 21 defensive lineman in the country (per 247 Sports), Blade began his high school career at Hillcrest (Country Club Hills, Illinois) before transferring to Simeon.
If Bielema and his staff have any shot of landing the 6-foot-4, 245-pound senior, they need to schedule an on-campus visit with Blade ASAP. McHale visited Purdue on Friday and is scheduled to visit Wisconsin next and USC, Michigan and Notre Dame in June.
The good news for the Illini is that they’re putting together far and away their best recruiting class in the Bielema era, and the fact that a bunch of top prospects from the state have already committed to Illinois could be a deciding factor in convincing Blade to stay home.
Blade reportedly will make schedule visits with all seven finalists and make a decision on July 4.
Top Three NBA Landing Spots for Illinois Forward Will Riley
Illinois Basketball’s Best of the Century: No. 10 Malcolm Hill
Surprising Stat Highlights Underrated Impact of Illinois’ Tomislav Ivisic
A cucumber recall tied to a salmonella outbreak in dozens of states has expanded to include more companies, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced.
In an update Thursday, the agency said the multistate salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc., now includes four additional brands.
Additional recalls are being conducted by companies that used or repackaged recalled cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, Inc.,” the FDA said in its alert.
The outbreak is linked to the same grower whose cucumbers were tied to more than 550 illnesses last year, including several in Illinois.
Here’s what to know:
What cucumbers are involved in the outbreak?
The cucumbers were grown by Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales.
They were sold to retailers, distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors between April 29, 2025 and May 19, 2025.
“Cucumbers may have been sold individually or in smaller packages, with or without a label that may not bear the same brand, product name, or best by date,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. “For distributors, restaurants, and retailers who have purchased these cucumbers, the products were labeled as either being ‘supers,’ ‘selects,’ or ‘plains.’”
In addition, the following companies have now been added to the recall:
Where were the cucumbers sold?
The full extent of where the cucumbers were sold has not yet been determined by the FDA, though an investigation is ongoing.
The recalled cucumbers were available at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market in three Florida locations including Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach between April 29, 2025, and May 14, 2025.
But beyond that, the FDA said it is “working to determine where potentially contaminated product was distributed.”
Several people who fell ill ate cucumbers on cruise ships leaving ports in Florida, according to the CDC. Organic cucumbers are not affected, officials said.
The FDA advised restaurants, retailers, and distributors that purchased potentially contaminated recalled cucumbers between April 29, 2025 and May 19, 2025 to “notify their customers of the potential health concern.”
Where have illnesses been reported so far?
In the latest outbreak, the cucumbers have been linked to illnesses in at least 26 people in 15 states. At least nine people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported, according to the FDA.
Illinois is among the states reporting illnesses associated with the outbreak, with three to four cases confirmed in the state so far.
Illnesses were reported between April 2 and April 28, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How was the outbreak detected?
The outbreak was detected as part of a follow-up inspection in April to a 2024 outbreak that sickened 551 people and led to 155 hospitalizations in 34 states and Washington, D.C. In that outbreak, investigators found salmonella bacteria linked to many of the illnesses in untreated canal water used at farms operated by Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce Company.
In the current outbreak, officials found salmonella bacteria from samples on the farm that matched samples from people who got sick.
Retailers should notify consumers who may have bought the tainted produce. If consumers don’t know the source of cucumbers, they should throw them away, officials said.
What symptoms should you watch for?
Common salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps, with symptoms beginning anywhere from six hours to six days after ingesting the bacteria.
Most people infected recover within four-to-seven days without treatment, though some people, particularly children under the age of five years, adults 65 and older and individuals with weakened immune systems may experience more severe illness.
What to do if you think you have these cucumbers?
Consumers may be contacted by a retailer about the recalled cucumbers.
“If you cannot tell if your cucumber was grown by Bedner Growers, throw it away,” the FDA suggested.
The agency also suggests that when eating out over the next week, check to see if the restaurant you are dining at has cucumbers purchased from Bedner Growers or Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc.
“Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a Salmonella infection after eating potentially contaminated cucumbers,” the FDA said.
As for restaurants, retailers and distributors, he FDA recommends the following:
- If you suspect you purchased potentially contaminated recalled cucumbers between April 29 and May 19, you should should notify customers of the potential health concern.
- Carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Father ripped from family as agents target immigration courts, arresting people after cases dismissed
Residents can now have their soil tested for lead around Eaton burn area, thanks to free county program
An inside look at the control center behind Honda's IndyCar racing effort
How Heineken tapped into China’s beer market
Russia hits Kyiv with massive drone and missile attack amid prisoner exchange
-
Technology1 week agoLove, Death, and Robots keeps a good thing going in volume 4
-
Technology1 week agoMeta asks judge to throw out antitrust case mid-trial
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoClassic Film Review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ is a Lesson in Redemption | InSession Film
-
World1 week agoCommissioner Hansen presents plan to cut farming bureaucracy in EU
-
Politics1 week agoDem senator says 'no doubt' Biden declined cognitively during presidency
-
News1 week agoVideo: Doctors Heal Infant Using First Customized-Gene Editing Treatment
-
News1 week agoNew Orleans jailbreak: 10 inmates dug a hole, wrote ‘to easy’ before fleeing; escape plan found
-
World1 week agoLeak: Commission to launch PFAS clean-ups in water resilience strategy