Northwestern University Ends African Studies

The Post Millennial brings us the update. Northwestern University to end African studies program

OK, it isn't ending. It is "transitioning," to something besides "an Office for Research university-wide research institute and center."

Northwestern University is reportedly planning to end its African studies program by the end of the month.

According to The Purple Wire, two sources at the university said administrators informed staff that the program would end at the end of August. One staff member said that staff was not given a reason for the closing.

Wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Left to ensue in 3, 2, 1, ...

“They told us that the center is closing, so all staff are being laid off because there will be no center to employ you,” a staffer said.

There is some question about if, or how, some other part of the university will absorb the program.

Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois, directly north of the City of Chicago. It is bordered by Chicago to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north.

Don't Bring a Crossbow to a Gunfight

I don't usually cover cops defending themselves, but this is more of a Stupid Criminals post. Decatur Police Chief responds after bodycam footage released of shooting involving officers, man with crossbow | WCIA

And yes, this is from some time ago. It only recently came to my attention by way of the video embedded below.

The body camera footage following an officer involved shooting last month in Decatur was released on Thursday. Now, there are also new details about what led up to it.

Decatur Police said that 54-year-old, Michael Boliard pointed a crossbow at people and officers on April 22 in broad daylight and near a busy transit center.

He pointed a crossbow at police. He got shot, multiple times. Cops then rendered aid, until an ambulance could arrive and take him to a local hospital.

Boliard is sitting in the Macon County Jail ahead of his trial. He’s been charged with aggravated assault of a peace officer, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance and armed violence.

Macon County, Illinois, is home to Decatur. It is 135 miles due west of Indianapolis, Indiana. It is about a 180 mile drive south-southeast of Chicago.

The three officers were not charged in the shooting.

This is the Allegedly Illinois video Who Brings A Crossbow To A Gunfight?

Some Attackers Have 4 Legs

People need to control their animals. Dog shot and killed after attacking juvenile in Morton | 1470 & 100.3 WMBD

Two dogs were reported as loose, and animal control was in the area searching for them, when a city employee, and a Good Samaritan happened across the dogs attacking a child.

A Village of Morton employee and a private citizen stopped to help the victim. Morton Fire Department paramedics transported the juvenile to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Before Morton Police arrived, one of the dogs charged at the citizen who had stopped to help. The citizen, a licensed concealed carry holder, fired a weapon and fatally shot the dog.

The second dog was captured by animal control. The owner of the two dogs is known, though they have not said what charges they may face.

Morton, Illinois, is about 5 miles east of Peoria, across the Illinois River. It is about 125 miles southwest of Chicago, though the drive will be closer to 160 miles.

People need to keep their animals under control, and they need to be held accountable for the injuries those animals inflict.

And self-defense against a dog, is still self-defense.

Shooting Spree Is Family Execution

What were you doing when you were 16? I'm guessing mass murder wasn't on the agenda. ‘I love blood’: Officials reveal texts between teens accused of killing 5 family members

This wasn't a mass shooting. As he shot people at different times.

At 16 years old, Ja’ymier Davis is facing 12 charges as an adult, including five counts of first-degree murder.

The other person arrested in connection with the mass shooting is a 15-year-old girl who faces charges in juvenile court.

He killed his aunt. Then he killed his cousin while cleaning up the 1st crime scene, because he walked in and discovered the cleaning. It goes on from there.

East St. Louis, Illinois, is directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri.

Click thru for the details, including the antics of the defense attorney.

I miss living in a civilized society.

Illinois Sued Over Firearms Owners ID Card

The FOID card is one of many things Illinois does to stand in the way of your Second Amendment RightsIllinois Sued Over Firearms Licensing Scheme | The Daily Caller

Illinois requires anyone to obtain a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID) before they can possess any firearm or even ammunition, according to the Illinois State Police Firearms Service Bureau. The New Civil Liberties Alliance announced the litigation in a Tuesday release, bringing the action on behalf of several Illinois residents including a Navy veteran and a restaurant owner.

Click thru for the details, as it is a fairly straight-forward suit in the era of Bruen.

“Under the FOID scheme, the state denies all residents the right to keep and bear arms unless and until they satisfy the ISP that they are eligible—and reserves the right to revoke permission instantly, at any time,” the complaint says.

Need to buy some popcorn. Oh, and the liberals with be screaming about the end of the world in a few seconds.

The Direct Impact of Banning Fossil-Fuel Generated Electricity

The Democrats of Illinois are bent on destroying every bit of industrial capacity. Even electricity is leaving blues states - Don Surber

This is the reaction to the 2021 Climate & Equitable Jobs Act, which the Chicago Tribune called “one of Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature accomplishments, requires Illinois to phase out the burning of fossil fuels for electricity by 2045 and sets an earlier 2030 deadline for closing certain gas-fired plants.”

Instead of waiting for 2030, an energy generation plant in Elwood, Illinois, was sold off. Six of the nine gas turbines are moving to Texas. (Just load them up on a flatbed truck and off they go.) The other three will continue to run for a while. Those three have been purchased by a non-profit out of Wisconsin. (There is a carve out in the CEJA law for non-profits that own gas turbines.)

The underlying article is actually an editorial from the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune seems surprised that passing silly laws could have detrimental impacts on the local economy.

Chicago Cannot Afford Its Pensions

This is not new really problem, but it is getting to the point no one can hide from it. From Meep at STUMP we get the following. Chicago Pensions Watch: DROP Will Not Save the Pensions

The issue is that Chicago has the worst-funded pensions of all cities in the U.S.

Not among the worst. Not in the bottom five. The worst. Either first or last place, depending on your point of view.

The City of Chicago's Pension "crisis," that is the unfunded liabilities, currently amounts to $35.8 billion.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has a "strategy." It won't work.

Chicago really can’t afford any of it. It’s not just a matter of timing of cash flows; it’s a matter of the promises made.

I wrote that in May 2023. Since then, the situation has gotten worse, and it’s not all Johnson’s fault: the state legislature and Governor J.B. Pritzker have made the promises bigger for the police and fire pensions:

That's right. In a pure political move, that everyone told him was a bad idea, J.B. Pritzker, known not-so-affectionately as Fatso, made the situation worse by increasing the liabilities. The "sweetener" will make the situation worse by $11 billion.

Chicago, and Illinois, are very nearly at the point where they are, in the words of Margaret Thatcher, out of other people's money.

They are also out of their own money, because they never saved any to pay the pensions. Illinois has unfunded pension liabilities of $148.6 billion, and unfunded retiree health care liabilities of $21.7 billion. That is the State of Illinois, not including Chicago.

If you add all of those numbers together, you get unfunded liabilities in excess of $200 billion.

Anyway, click thru for the details. It is a cautionary tale if ever there was one. Someone should read the old fable of The Ant and Grasshopper.

I find it interesting because Chicago, and Illinois were home, and I still have family in Illinois. But you know the Democrats will want to bail out Chicago, and Illinois if they get the chance.

The Downside of Confronting Criminals

Yes, his car was being broken into. He could have paid the ultimate price. Homeowner shot overnight in Morton Grove while trying to stop car from being broken into, police chief issues statement

An initial investigation, police say, determined that two Black male offenders were trying to break into a car parked on Palma Lane. They were spotted by the homeowner, who then confronted them and tried to stop the burglary.

According to police, the offenders then beat the victim and shot him in the leg before fleeing the scene in what area witnesses described as a dark-colored sedan.

Morton Grove, Illinois is about a 15 mile drive north-northwest of the the Loop in downtown Chicago.

Now even in the People's Republic of Illinois, you have the right to us "proportional force" to defend your property, but it seems like this guy was only going to speak harshly to them. While they shot him in the leg, they could easily have shot him in the head.

Morton Grove Police Chief Michael Weitzel released a social media post on this incident. The relevant section, to me anyway is as follows:

Incidents like this highlight the very real danger of confronting individuals who are engaged in criminal activity. Those committing acts of this nature are often willing to escalate situations to deadly force without hesitation, as we saw in this case.

You are not protected by your zip code. The bad guys can travel. And as Chief Weitzel points out, your life means nothing to them. They only shot this guy, after beating him up, because he pissed them off.

If your car, and what is inside it, means that much to you, then maybe don't park on the street.

You certainly have the right to defend your property. There are things in this world that I consider worth risking my life over; my old SUV is not one of them. But you do you.

An Important Lesson About Having a Firearm

Possessing a firearm doesn't make you the most dangerous person in the room. Attitude counts for a lot. Man, 35, Dies After Shot By Own Gun In Struggle With Homeowner During Attempted Break-In: Police | Manhattan, IL Patch

According to the statement, police say Hayes and an accomplice attempted to forcibly enter the apartment, and Hayes was reportedly armed with a shotgun.

A physical struggle ensued between Hayes and the resident, during which the resident discharged the shotgun, striking Hayes, police said.

While I wouldn't want to face a shotgun with just my bare hands, if it was a question of "him or me" I would fight to make sure it was him.

No word on the other guy, who was with Hayes, so I assume that he ran.

There is also no word on what the motive might have been. Was it a simple break-in, or was it personal?

Self-defense is a human right. It may or may not be your legal right in Illinois.

Manhattan, Illinois is a small village in Will County. It is about 10 miles southeast of Joliet, or about a 50 mile drive southwest of downtown Chicago. I don't have a feeling for how the current Criminal Justice System in Will County views self-defense, but I would guess that they support it.

What's the Opposite of Diversity? University

When did universities begin to hate free speech? Illinois State University faculty member flips Turning Point USA tables on campus

A twisted Illinois State University faculty member was caught on camera flipping a Turning Point USA table set up by students on campus this week, viral video shows.

The vandal is seen unleashing the sick rampage moments after speaking to a man standing near the table, which had been set up by students in the group to promote political YouTuber and comedian Alex Stein’s Oct. 20 event at the university, according to video and various X posts about the ugly incident.

I'm old enough to remember when universities were hotbeds of free speech. Now they seem to be hotbeds of fascism. "If you don't agree with me I will disrupt your event." You can pretend that is anti-fascism, but that just means you are ignorant of history.

Derek Lopez was arrested. Normal, IL Arrest: ISU Graduate Student Allegedly Damaged Property During Campus Events

According to ISUPD, Derek Lopez of El Paso, Illinois, was taken into custody October 17, 2025, following an investigation into two recent informational tabling events hosted by a registered student organization. Lopez faces charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property.

The charges are not much, but I'm sure it is more than he expected to face.

Illinois Cops Sell Guns Illegally

Are we shocked? Former suburban police chief, officers accused of selling guns from evidence room | WGN-TV

The former police chief of Campton Hills, two former officers and a current officer are accused of a scheming to sell guns from the evidence room.

The four, including former police chief Steven Millar, are facing a bevy of charges in a grand jury indictment.

Campton Hills, Illinois is about a 45 mile drive west of the Loop in Chicago.

Illinois has corrupt politicians, and corrupt police. This is not really news. Consider 1 post, and one list.

• The History of Corruption in Chicago
• Cops Behaving Badly

That post is actually the first entry in the list, because the post calls out the convictions from Operation Greylord, an anti-corruption operation by the FBI in the Cook County courts that swept up judges, cops, politicians, and more.

And the list actually includes a lot of cops not in Chicago, but Chicago was home, and that's where I concentrated my searched.

Hat tip to Clayton Cramer: Why Gun Control is Doomed to Failure

Guns are high value items. Even when lawfully sold they are worth hundreds of dollars a pound. This is why gun smuggling can be so lucrative. When purchase is severely regulated, I am sure that price per pound at least doubles.

Rioters or Protestors?

It seems a lot of people in Illinois are unclear on what constitutes peaceful protest, and when that becomes a riot. Breaking the law, and assaulting law enforcement doesn't fall under "Peaceful Protest."

Not much to add to this video. "Protestors" provoke a confrontation with ICE (and Border Patrol?). Film the confrontation, and then edit out the bits where they are breaking the law, up to and including assaulting law enforcement.

With some insane comments from Illinois Governor Pritzker, and support of the "Professional Journalists."

This is the Cash Jordan video “OPEN BORDERS” Mob CHARGES ICE Jail… 'Deportation Troops' Answer With POLICE BRUTALITY. The video is about 15 minutes.

The Law of Unintended Consequences - Illinois Edition

This isn't even really about people gaming the system, just about the system working in ways the legislators didn't foresee. Court no-shows have suburban jail bursting at the seams under cashless bail, sheriff says - CWB Chicago

A suburban county’s sheriff says Illinois’ two-year-old cashless bail system has produced the opposite of what its backers promised, with his jail population nearly doubling since the law took effect. But the increase, Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain said, is not because violent offenders are being kept behind bars pending trial.

Instead, Hain says his jail is filling up with defendants who were released pretrial under the new rules but later landed back behind bars after skipping their court dates and having warrants issued.

Instead of showing up to court to get their bale money back, they are just ignoring the situation, until they can't.

I'm sure that Illinois lawmakers will amend the law to "fix" this, because throwing bad guys in jail is unfair, or something.

Illinois's Fiscal Mess Is Trump's Fault

Illinois may have reached the end of kicking the can down the road. Gov. Pritzker orders 4% cuts across state agencies, blames federal policies | FOX 32 Chicago

Because decades of bad state policies couldn't possibly be an issue.

What we know: Pritzker signed an executive order requiring agencies to outline reductions within 30 days.

The cuts could include nonessential purchases, operational expenses and nonessential travel.

What "non-essential travel are Illinois taxpayers paying for?

Hat tip to Second City Cop: Welcome to "Suddenly"

In Ernest Hemingway 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises," the character Mike Campbell was asked about his money troubles and responded with....:

“How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked.

“Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.”

And those disastrous policies?

"disastrous economic policies" that have led to all time stock market highs?

Health care and nutritional assistance that are rife with corruption and grift?

Tariffs that most experts agree aren't having nearly the downside that the panic peddlers on the left were hoping for, and are actually properly re-balancing world trade?

Illinois Takes Over Two Years to Report Financials

Nothing says "open and transparent" like not providing the data. Meep at STUMP: Dunking on Illinois: Making a Record in a Bad Way -- Over Two Years to Report Financials

What the actual hell, Illinois.

Are we shocked that a state with a history of corruption has a problem auditing its books?

21 Aug 2025, Truth in Accounting: Illinois Sets a New National Record: 774 Days Late with Financial Reporting

As Meep points out, your budget it a plan. The financial reports state what actually happened. If you don't have reports before the next budget is due you are flying blind. Well, you are usually in a situation more like driving while looking in the rearview mirror, but without financial reports it's like you broke off the mirror and threw it out the window.

Illinois has not met the mandated 180 days limit since 2009.

I'm so glad I no longer live in that state.

A Mother Defends Her Child

What else was she supposed to do? I wish the gun-hating part of the Left would explain that some day. Woman fatally shoots home invader in Joliet, Illinois, police say - CBS Chicago

A woman was home with her baby when a man broke in. She armed herself and hid herself and her child in a closet.

Police said the man entered the bedroom and the victim fired a shot, hitting him in the head. The suspect, who is not known to the victim, was wearing gloves and in possession of a screwdriver at the time of the incident.

She is cooperating with the investigation, and while Illinois is a Blue State, Joliet, and Will County, are (or at least they were, when I lived in that county) distinctly more conservative than Chicago and Cook County. No charges have been filed.

Joliet is about a 45 mile drive southwest of downtown Chicago.

Self-defense is really becoming a thing in Illinois, to the dismay of many of the liberals in and around Chicago. I am still waiting for someone from the gun-hating part of the Left to tell me what this woman should have done, or anyone is a similar position? Remember, you don't know why this guy was there. Was he a burglar, or a rapist, or both? Imputing motivations is just proposing hypotheticals. And even if we eventually find out why he was there, what did she know in the moment? Are you going to condemn her for not being a mind reader? I would like the Left to explain all of this, but I'm not holding my breath.

Self-defense is a human right. (Hat tip to Breitbart.)

More Self-Defense in Illinois

And the State's Attorney for Cook County made this determination in short order. Deadly Glenwood bar shooting ruled self-defense, no charges filed

Glenwood police announced the conclusion of their investigation late Friday afternoon.

After reviewing hours of video surveillance, conducting witness interviews, and executing search warrants, the findings were presented to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

The office later determined that no charges would be filed.

Glenwood, Illinois is a village in Cook County about 22 miles south of the Chicago loop.

I don't know a lot about the new Illinois State's Attorney for Cook County, Eileen O'Neill Burke, since she has only been in office since December, but she seems to be an improvement over the previous holder of that title.

Self-defense is a human right, and it seems to be catching on in Illinois.

First He Got Shot, Then He Was Charged

Illinois is starting to become a place where armed self-defense is a thing. The would-be bad guys haven't gotten the memo. Intruder facing charges after being shot during Arcola home invasion: State’s Attorney

State’s Attorney Rob Kosic told WCIA that he charged Dalton Kresin with three counts: attempted home invasion, residential burglary and criminal trespassing. The first two charges are Class 1 felonies, with the latter being a Class 4 felony.

The charges allege that on Jan. 17, Kresin tried to break into a home at Pine and Washington Streets in Arcola. Kosic said the person living at the house was present and was armed with a gun. They shot Kresin as he tried to break in.

Arcola, Illinois is about a 30 mile drive south of Champaign (home of the University of Illinois Fighting Illini), or about 125 mile drive west of Indianapolis, Indiana.

As for self-defense catching on in The Land of Lincoln...

The attempted home invasion in Arcola is one of several throughout Central Illinois over the last four months that ended with the would-be intruder being shot. In November, two men were shot and killed within 10 days as they tried to break into homes in Champaign and Decatur. Both shootings were found to be lawful by the Champaign and Macon County State’s Attorneys.

Earlier this month, Alexia Templar of Decatur successfully defended her home and her young children against three armed intruders. She shot one of them and all three suspects are facing charges.

Self-defense is a human right.

Armed Mom Defends Her Children

All this over a PlayStation 5 Pro. 3 charged in home invasion, shooting of local mother home alone with 2 children | WAND TV

[A woman] was woken up to the sound of shattering glass and footsteps inside her home on the city's east side near Hill Park around 4 a.m. Monday. She was home alone with her two young children when she saw two people standing inside.

She gathered her children and told the intruders to leave or she would shoot them. According to Templar, they started immediately shooting at her. She shot back, but was hit once in the arm and once in the hip. According to a sworn statement from the Decatur Police Department, this was the same hip she was using to hold her infant daughter.

Decatur, Illinois is about a 2 hour and 45 minute drive south-southwest of Chicago, or about 40 miles east of Springfield, Illinois.

She called her boyfriend at one point. He arrived at the home and took her to a local hospital. The wounds are not serious.

Later that night, cops were called to a home about a gunshot wound.

According to the sworn statement from DPD, Stone told the detective that he was contacted by a 16-year-old boy he knew who had a plan to commit a burglary and split the proceeds. Another person Stone knew was also involved in the burglary plan, Sophie, later identified as 25-year-old Colton L. Clark.

The 16-year-old is the one who apparently shot this woman.

Stone was charged with home invasion, while Clark and the 16-year-old were charged with attempted murder, home invasion, and aggravated battery with a firearm. Stone and Clark were booked into the Macon County Jail, while the 16-year-old is currently being detained at the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center.

A PlayStation 5 Pro, can be picked up at my local Walmart tomorrow for $700. Split 3 ways, that doesn't amount to much, even assuming that they could sell it for anything close to retail.

The hat tip goes to Liberty Doll and her video Armed Mom Takes On Three Bad Guys. The video is less than 6 minutes.

Self-Defense Is Legal in Illinois

You can never really be sure in a blue state. From the News Gazette: Investigation closing on home invasion which led to death of intruder

On November 10th the soon-to-be-dead guy decided to break into an occupied home. He was met by an armed homeowner.

According to police, the resident engaged in a physical altercation with Becerril-Perez and fired multiple shots.

They are still waiting on the toxicology report to close the file, but the State's Attorney for the area seems to be convinced.

State’s Attorney Julia Rietz says that her preliminary review indicates the use of deadly force by the homeowner was justified.

Champaign, Illinois is home to The University of Illinois. It is about a 130 mile drive south of Chicago, or about 145 miles northeast of Saint Louis, Missouri, though if you are driving from Saint Louis it will be closer to 180 miles by car.

Self-defense is a human right. It might also be your legal right in Illinois, but it might not.