Isabel’s afternoon roundup
Wednesday, Aug 28, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller
Click here to read the redacted filing. * AFSCME 31…
* House Speaker Chris Welch…
* NBC Chicago | Illinois cheer families could be owed money after massive settlement against Varsity Brands: Illinois will now be part of a proposed settlement of a class-action lawsuit against Varsity Brands, a company that puts on cheer camps and competitions and that was accused of using monopolistic tactics to raise prices and undercut competition. According to Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Illinois has signed onto the lawsuit, with a proposed settlement of $82.5 million currently in front of a judge in the case. * BND | Mpox now a global health emergency. What an Illinois doctor says about cases, vaccine: The more severe mpox strain, also referred to as clade I, has been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has lead to at least 450 deaths so far, Southern Illinois University Medicine infectious diseases specialist Dr. Vidya Sundareshan said in a recent interview with the BND. […] While vaccination strategies in Illinois and across the U.S. are focusing primarily on men who have sex with men (some guidelines specify multiple partners), anyone can contract mpox. Both clade I and clade II can be spread by contact with infected wild animals, close contact with someone who has mpox and through contact with infected materials. * Block Club | CTA Boss Spent More Time Traveling World Than Visiting Chicago Transit Stations, Schedule Shows: From the end of May 2023 to spring 2024, as CTA riders had to cope with frequent delays and filthy conditions, Carter spent nearly 100 days out of town at conferences, some overseas, his schedule shows. Most of Carter’s trips between June 2023 and May 2024 were for events related to the American Public Transportation Association, a nonprofit advocacy group he chaired in 2022 and 2023. Carter spent a week in Pittsburgh and another in Orlando, six days in Puerto Rico and five days in Washington, D.C. He also took trips to Spain, New Zealand and Australia. * WBEZ | Abortion took center stage during the DNC. But here’s why access could be in jeopardy: But abortion funds that are essential for so many people traveling to states like Illinois — paying for their flights, hotels, child care and their abortions — are running out of money. Providers and advocates say that’s putting access to reproductive medical care in jeopardy. Megan Jeyifo, for one, said she is exhausted. She runs the Chicago Abortion Fund, one of the largest of its kind in the country. […] Jeyifo estimates the fund needs at least $200,000 a month more to cover abortion procedures. * Sun-Times | CPD traffic stops for minor violations ripped as ‘gateway to criminal charges’ at meeting seeking possible reforms: At a special hearing held by Chicago’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability on Tuesday evening, dozens of Chicagoans and a panel of experts gathered to provide input on what meaningful traffic stop reform could look like in Chicago. Commission president Anthony Driver Jr. said the purpose of the hearing was to learn how “pretextual traffic stops” — which critics describe as stops for minor infractions used as an excuse, or pretext, to search for evidence of other criminal activity — hurt communities and public safety, and “to learn from other jurisdictions that have changed their policies on police-initiated traffic stops.” * Chalkbeat | Chicago Public Schools inspector general departs: Fletcher, who started a job this week at the Gateway Development Commission — a public transit agency run jointly by New York and New Jersey — said he had felt no pressure to find a new job and left the district only reluctantly. “This job was especially important to me because I had a personal commitment to CPS as a former student and a CPS parent,” he said. * Block Club | Black Family Opens Stussy’s Diner In Bridgeport — 45 Years After Racist Attack Outside Same Spot: In 1979, the Nance family was chased by white men with baseball bats and tried to enter the old Bridgeport Restaurant for help, but no one would let them in. “Now, this place will support everybody.” * WTTW | WTTW News Explains: How Did Redlining Work in Chicago?: Put simply: redlining is the act of denying people access to credit because of where they live and who they are, even if they’re qualified borrowers. […] Furthermore, Blacks were often prevented from moving into new, developing communities due to racially restrictive covenants or clauses — pioneered by Chicago realty groups — that explicitly prohibited Blacks from purchasing that property. * ABC Chicago | United Airlines flight attendants union votes 99.99% to authorize a strike: This is the first time they’ve voted on such a proposal, in nearly 20 years. The historic announcement was made after a demonstration at O’Hare Airport on Wednesday. […] The flight attendants are calling for raises, schedule flexibility, work rule improvements, job security, retirement and more. The flight attendants union said it filed for federal mediation over eight months ago and have been working under an amendable contract for nearly three years. * Crain’s | How Roti went bankrupt: At the same time, Rōti pulled a lifeline to allow its remaining 26 locations to survive the initial pandemic punches: The company negotiated rent deferral agreements with its landlords. Those deferral agreements are now expiring — and Rōti appears unable to pay up. As Seamonds wrote in the court filings, the expired deferrals are “leading to a significant increase in operational expenses which have been difficult to meet.” * ABC Chicago | Lynwood police officer honored after running toward gunfire, suffering graze wound at homicide scene: “This evening, we’re gathered to recognize the extraordinary bravery of Michael Johnson,” said Lynwood Police Chief Gregory Thomas. […] “It’s just something that you just do. Law enforcement, just like any other thing that you put your life on the line, is something that you got to want to do,” Johnson said. * Daily Herald | Raise a glass: Sip your way across the suburbs with these fall beer festivals: Over two dozen breweries will participate in the annual Illinois Brews @ Bowes Creek fundraiser at Bowes Creek Country Club. General admission tickets are $55 in advance and include admission to the main event from 4-8 p.m. for the craft and home brew beer tasting, snacks and a 5-ounce tasting mug. VIP ticket ($75) holders get in an hour earlier and have access to exclusive beer, whiskey and cocktail tastings. Hosted by the Elgin Parks & Recreation Foundation, ticket sales from the event support the Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund, which provides free access to Elgin Parks programs for at-risk kids. * WAND | Moms Demand Action giving away gun locks at Champaign-Urbana Public Health District: The group will be giving away free gun locks Wednesday. You can stop by the lobby of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, located at 201 S. Kenyon Rd. in Champaign from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. * Farm Week | New edible windbreak to provide multiple benefits: An outdoor part of the Heartland Community College’s Ag Complex in Normal is combining form and function. The new edible windbreak is part of the school’s sustainability efforts and offers a model for potential increased income for farmers. Layers of trees and bushes will act as a windbreak and supply a variety of fruits for students and others to enjoy. “It’s part of a sustainable ag model we are promoting,” said Kortney Watts, associate dean of career and technical education at the college. The college offers training in every step of the process. * The Southern | Dobbins will remain Johnston City mayor after rescinding resignation: Mayor Doug Dobbins will continue his term as mayor of Johnston City despite reports of his possible resignation this week. Dobbins told The Southern on Tuesday evening that he had turned in a letter of resignation, but rescinded it before it became effective after discussing the matter with others. * BND | From Belleville to Broadway, West grad makes St. Louis homecoming with cast of ‘Hamilton’: The Belleville native is among the 32-person ensemble that arrives at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis on Aug. 28. Known as the show about America then portrayed by America now, he is cast as George Eacker, a lawyer who gave a patriotic Fourth of July speech but is most known for shooting Philip Hamilton in a duel. He also fills the role of “Man 3.” “It’s crazy. I have wanted to be part of this ever since 2016 and I finally got it in 2024,” he said. “I feel incredibly blessed to be here. It is an amazing piece of art. It’s still so fresh, so relevant. I am so excited to tell this story,” he said in an interview. * PJ Star | Peoria native Kendrick Green lands spot on NFL 53-man roster: The 6-foot-4, 315-pound offensive lineman from the University of Illinois will begin his fourth NFL season with the Texans. The Peoria High School graduate is listed as Houston’s backup left guard and one of nine offensive linemen on the roster for Houston, which last season won the AFC South and a playoff game behind rookie quarterback CJ Stroud. * NPR | As cars and trucks get bigger and taller, lawmakers look to protect pedestrians: Now lawmakers in Congress are expected to introduce a bill on Friday that would require federal standards for hood height and visibility to protect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. “We’ve seen these standards over time improve vehicle safety with a focus on the people in the vehicle,” said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), a co-sponsor of the Pedestrian Protection Act, in an interview with NPR. “But this would sort of expand that to pedestrians, bicyclists and people outside the vehicle.” * AP | Immigrant families in limbo after judge puts US program for spouses on hold: Although the Biden administration’s “Keeping Families Together” program only began accepting applications last week, families and immigration attorneys say confusion, uncertainty and frustration is already mounting following the order by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker. Couples who already applied say they are in limbo and those who haven’t yet must weigh whether to wait for Republicans’ court challenge over the program to play out.
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- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Aug 28, 24 @ 2:52 pm:
That Dorval Carter story is wild. He seemed ok at times, but it is hard to defend someone who is not even in Chicago for a good part of the year.
- Notorious JMB - Wednesday, Aug 28, 24 @ 3:03 pm:
Thought that for some time about the Highland Park shooting and the Aurora shooting. In both instances individuals known to be a danger were issued FOID cards and cleared to purchase a firearm with tragic consequences.
- Bernie Epton RIP - Wednesday, Aug 28, 24 @ 3:14 pm:
Mayor Photo Op squandering more political capital defending Dorval Carter.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Aug 28, 24 @ 3:18 pm:
The FOIA story within that Dorval Carter story is just laughable too. Oops, no laws.
- ThePAMan - Wednesday, Aug 28, 24 @ 3:20 pm:
1 hour and 15 minutes from Monroe to Oak Park Avenue on Blue Line starting at 605PM yesterday. Time to scrap the whole system and start over.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 28, 24 @ 3:23 pm:
===Time to scrap the whole system and start over. ===
I get your frustration, but that’s not a serious solution.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Aug 28, 24 @ 3:59 pm:
ThePAMan,
You should try Blue line from Austin then transferring to Red line to go to Loyola. Easily 1.5 hours not including wait. That’s due to a lot of things, including the design choice to have all spokes go into the city and speed limits to prevent accidents. How do you think the yellow line riders like what used to be a reliable 1/2 trip being doubled due to speedlimits due to an accident?
The answer lies not in scrapping but fixing where the chokes are and connecting the spokes with BRT lines (I mean new L would be better but the cost for that would be obscene.)
- DMC - Wednesday, Aug 28, 24 @ 5:36 pm:
Redlining. Let’s be clear. We focus on one demographic. Look at the maps. There is a reason my bohunk relatives paid in cash for their building. Pilsen was redlined. Taylor St? Redlined. The “Eyetalians” were deemed a dirty undesirable people to rent or sell to. Let’s talk about all of history and not cherry pick.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Aug 28, 24 @ 6:27 pm:
“Let’s talk about all of history and not cherry pick.”
Who’s stopping you?
– MrJM
- Socially DIstant watcher - Wednesday, Aug 28, 24 @ 6:38 pm:
Respect to afscme but they’d be better off negotiating towards a moving allowance and housing costs than keeping that prison open. Not a slam dunk but not nearly as impossible as their current objectives.