Newsletter -March 2026

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Newsletter Highlights

Election Day is March 17th

States Attorney Eileen Burke O'Neill to speak at the LWV Cook County Annual Meeting May 5

No Kings Rally March 28

Lunches, Lectures, Discussions--Check out the Local League Events

Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up.

Jesse Jackson

LWVCC Annual Meeting

All League Members Invited

Tuesday May 5 9:45 am to 1:00 pm

Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Ave, Ida B. Wells Room

Speaker: Cook County States Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke

LWVCC Website Home Page

Cost: $40 Continental breakfast and buffet lunch

Coffee, tea, and rolls will be served from 9:15am

Buffet lunch includes sandwiches, wraps, salad,

and cookies

Business meeting starts at 9:45 am,

followed by lunch and program

Annual Meeting Program

Eileen O'Neill Burke is an American lawyer, politician, and former judge serving as the Cook County State's Attorney. She was elected in 2024 on a platform of making Cook County safer, while also measuring success on how many people her office could rehabilitate.

Come hear what changes she has made to the office and why, as well as what else she wants to do during the remaining two years of her term.

March 17 2026 Primary Election Information

Last Minute Voting

You can still register at an early voting site or on Election Day. You will need 2 forms of ID, one with current address

Didn't mail in your vote-by mail ballot? On Election day, turn it in, and vote in person at your home precinct.

BE INFORMED AND VOTE

Go to Vote411.org

The League of Women Voters is a national No Kings partner

When authoritarian efforts escalate, we must organize to stop them. Nationwide No Kings protests are returning Saturday, March 28. Bring your friends, family, and neighbors to stand up and speak out.

Find a rally near you.

LWVCC Interest Groups keep members informed about important activities of our local government.

Upcoming Meetings

All Local League members are invited to participate in these interest group meetings

Budget & Structure Mon. March 30, 10 am via Zoom

Contact info@lwvcookcounty.org

Criminal Justice Tues, March 24, 9 am via Zoom

Contact Jan Goldberg

Forest Preserve Thurs, April 2, 8:30 am via Zoom

Contact Lauramdavis90@gmail.com

Budget and Structure Interest Group

We Learn, We Report, We Make a Difference

What to do when there's a flood: MWRD resource guide offers practical steps to follow

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago has released a new flood response resource guide for residents. It provides practical steps for residents to follow before, during, and after a flood. It also lists key agencies, local resources, and contact information to help them recover more quickly.

To download the Guide go to the MWRD Website

Email public.affairs@mwrd.org to request

hard copies

Forest Preserve Interest Group

Nature is our Business

“Restoring Nature, Restoring Ourselves”

April 22, 7pm

Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane, Northbrook, Civic Room, First Floor

In honor of Earth Day, join us to hear what Forest Preserve Restoration is all about. We’ll showcase different participant groups (Forest Preserve Staff, Friends of the Forest Preserves work crews, and Friends of Somme Preserve Community) and discuss the benefits of being in nature. Whether you are a worker or a walker or a neighbor, we all benefit from interacting with nature. Open to all. In person and via Zoom.

Next Meeting Thur, April 2, 2026 8:30 am via Zoom. To participate contact Lauramdavis90@gmail.com

Criminal Justice Interest Group

We had a great book discussion on "The Tragedy of True Crime" on Feb. 26. Dianne Schmidt does a great job of getting us all involved.

Jan Goldberg, Bev Graham, Tina Pettis, and Laura Davis have a zoom meeting on March 31st with the 1st Assistant State's Attorney. He took over the position last October. It will be a good starting point for our May 5th luncheon when we will hear from his boss, State's Attorney Burke.

Next Appleseed meeting will be on Mar. 12. Several of us usually attend.

Our next book discussion is on April 30 at 9AM via zoom. Our book will be "Birth Behind Bars" by Rebecca Rodriguez Carey.

Our next regular meeting will be Tuesday, March 24, 9 am via zoom.
To participate in these meetings, please contact Jan Goldberg

LWVCC Observer Corp

LWVCC members observe and report on board and committee meetings of Cook County government entities to keep you informed.

To read more: LWVCC Observer Reports

Illinois Still Deserves Fair Maps, but it is not going to happen this year.

The Fair Maps Illinois project, a bipartisan push to let voters amend the Illinois Constitution to reduce politics in drawing state legislative maps has been suspended by its founders, Bill Daley and Ray LaHood. The project was endorsed by the LWVIL

In a statement in the Chicago Tribune on March 6, Daley said the initiative has been confused with the partisan national congressional gerrymandering occurring in other states. They also were not able to get sufficient funding for the project. They have hopes of seeing it resurrected in 2028 and 2030 — ahead of the once-per-decade remap of Illinois House and Senate district boundaries following the 2030 federal census.

Local Leagues in Action

Local Leagues did voter registration at food pantrys

in new pilot program with the Greater Chicago Food Depository

The LWV La Grange Area brought voter registration and education materials to clients at the Food Pantry at Grace Central Church in Westchester in the weeks before the March 17 primary. Pantry clients could get information on closest Early Voting sites, how to check if they were registered, and flyers with voting information to bring home to family members and friends. Most pantry clients were well aware of the upcoming election and said they were already registered to vote.

Members of the LWV of the Palatine, Barrington, and Schaumburg Area presented information and registered voters at the St. Gregory of Nyssa Food Pantry in Schaumburg.

Local Leagues Upcoming Events

Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 12:00 pm Via Zoom

LWVIL Lunch & Learn

Repairing our Civic Rift: Person, Family, Community "Using Your Voice to Influence Change when running for the school board, state offices, or when helping develop election campaigns,”

Speaker: Patricia Fusso, Executive Director, The Campaign School at Yale

Tuesday, March. 24, 7:00 pm In person and on Zoom

LWV of the Palatine, Barrington, and Schaumburg Areas

Restorative Justice

Speakers: Tauya Forst, J.D., M.S., and Richard Forst, J.D., Professors of Criminal and Justice Studies at the College of DuPage.

Schaumburg Central Library,

130 S. Roselle Road

Schaumburg, IL 60193

Registration is required. Register HERE

Friday, March. 27, 11:30am - 1:30pm In person

LWV of Chicago

Luncheon Conversation with Senator Carol Moseley Braun and Author Lorissa Rinehart

Union League Club of Chicago. 65 West Jackson

Registration is required. Register HERE

Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 7:00 pm In person

LWV Glenview-Glencoe

Our Constitution at a Crossroads

Speaker: Steven Schwinn, Professor of Law, University of Illinois Chicago

Glenview Public Library 1930 Glenview Road, Glenview

Thursday, April 9, 2026, 7:00 pm In person

LWV AH-MP-BG

Bridging the Courthouse and Community Pretrial Fairness Act

Speakers: Judges John Hock, Ankur Srivastava, Jack Costello

Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave, Arlington Heights

Open to the public.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 12:00 pm Via Zoom

LWVIL Lunch & Learn

Improving Government: Inspectors General at State and Local Levels.

Speaker: Bryan Zarou, Vice President for Policy, Better Government Association. Member of a national search committee for the new Inspector General for Chicago.

Saturday, April 18, 2026, 10:00 am In person

LWV Palos Orland Area

PFAS and Their Impact on the Environment

Speaker: Jennifer Wasik, Environmental Scientist, MWRD

Palos Heights Public Library

12501 S. 71st Ave.

Palos Heights, IL

Free and open the public

Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 6:30 pm In person

LWV Palos Orland Area

The Electoral College: A Relic?

Speakers: Meg Peo and Janet Peo, LWV members

Orland Park Public Library

14921 S. Ravinia Ave, Orland Park

Free and open the public, but limited seating so registration is recommended

Thursday, April 30, 2026, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm In person

LWV Winnetka-Northfield-Kenilworth

Spring Luncheon and Lecture

Speaker: Arne Duncan and Chicago Cred Participants

North Shore Senior Center, 161 Northfield Road, Northfield

Tickets: $25- $50

2025-2026 Cook County League Board Members

OFFICERS: President: Diane Edmundson, Chicago; Vice-President, Kathi Graffam, LaGrange Area; Vice-President, Susan Gregory, Glenview-Glencoe; Secretary: Carolyn Cosentino, Homewood/Flossmoor; Treasurer: Trudy Turner, Evanston.

Board members: Victoria Cerinich, Palos-Orland Park Area; Laura Davis, Palatine, Barrington & Schaumburg Areas; Jan Goldberg, LaGrange Area ; Betty Hayford, Evanston; Pris Mims, Chicago; Sandra Slayton, Homewood-Flossmoor

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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government; to increase understanding of major policy issues, and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to anyone regardless of gender, race, or ethnic group.

_________________________

League of Women Voters of Cook County

332 S. Michigan Ave. Suite 634, Chicago, IL 60604

312-939-5935

lwvcookcounty.org