‘THIS IS TERRIFYING.’ That’s the executive director of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs’ reaction to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions’ order that the Justice Department review reform agreements with troubled police forces—including a deal pending in Chicago.
■ In Chicago, a federal judge has cleared the advance of a lawsuit blaming a Chicago police “code of silence” for letting a detective go free in a fatal drunk-driving crash.
■ Police report the arrest of another teen in the case of a sex assault streamed live on Facebook.
■ In a school board election, transgender access is the big issue.
■ But the Daily Herald reports more than two out of three races are uncontested.
■ The polls are open until 7 p.m. Where and how to vote.
■ A website aims to persuade Chance the Rapper to run for Chicago mayor.
■ Speaking to the City Club of Chicago, Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett has left open the door to running for office herself. (See her full speech on the City Club website.)
■ President Trump’s Justice Department has suffered a setback in its efforts to limit voter rights.
AT FOX, FEAR AND SILENCE. CNN reports women at Fox News want to speak up against former Fox News chief Roger Ailes and host Bill O’Reilly over sexual harassment. But they’re afraid.
■ Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson: At Fox, a reminder that “when you’re a star … you can do anything.”
■ WGN Radio host Steve Cochran waters down his original apology, saying he’s “offended” Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza went public with her complaint about his suggestion the governor duct-tape her mouth shut.
WHAT’S ‘NUCLEAR’? NPR explains how the pending confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch could change everything in Washington—and why no one seems to feel especially happy about it.
■ The minority of senators planning a filibuster represent a majority of the country.
WELCOME TO AMERICA. The Wall Street Journal reports Trump’s administration is considering requiring foreigners who want to visit the U.S., even for a short trip, to share contacts on their mobile phones, social-media passwords and financial records.
■ In Chicago, more immigrants are afraid to show up for their annual government check-ins.
■ Trump’s threat to “sanctuary city” rules could cost Chicago millions.
■ Companies considering working on a U.S.-Mexico border wall anticipate “hostile” working conditions.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. If Republicans are successful in killing the EPA’s power to regulate carbon pollution, polluters might find themselves with a new set of headaches.
■ A major corporate CEO and a bunch of retired U.S. military brass are lining up to persuade Trump to keep tougher fuel-economy rules.
■ Even Fox News is giving Trump’s EPA chief a tough time.
AND HE SHOULD KNOW. The former White House counsel to President Richard Nixon, John Dean, compares and contrasts Nixon and Trump.
■ Why Trump’s administration “went off the rails almost immediately”: One insider says Trump considered it “bad karma … to start planning a presidency before he won the election.”
■ ProPublica politely tells Trump’s press secretary he’s full of it.
■ Despite concern it’s “a ridiculous use of limited public money,” Chicago’s new Wintrust Arena opens in September near McCormick Place.
‘THE REASON IS, OF COURSE, MONEY.’ Deadspin’s take on the NHL’s decision to keep its players out of the 2018 Olympics.
■ And the players mourn.
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CORRECTION. Yesterday’s Chicago Public Square misspelled the name of Dick Tracy comic strip writer Mike Curtis. If you spot an error in Square, email FixThis@ChicagoPublicSquare.com and see your name in pixels right hereabouts.