Chicago’s
Sue me? Sue you, blues.* The Chicago police union threatened to sue Mayor Lightfoot over her COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cops, but Lightfoot beat the union to it—ordering her law department to file a complaint against the union president for “encouraging an unlawful strike.”
■ As of today, city employees who aren’t vaccinated have to get tested twice a week—on their own time and at their own expense.
■ Booster shots are nearing final approval for those vaccinated with Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
‘A sham investigation.’ Another ex-co-host to WTMX-FM morning mouth Eric Ferguson—who’s at least temporarily off the air—has filed a $10 million defamation lawsuit against the company, which she says perpetuated a culture of discrimination to protect him “at any cost” …
■ … and her suit includes a new charge from another female ex-employee of the station, complaining of “misogyny, gender discrimination and hostile work environment.”
‘The scatterbrain defense.’ Patch columnist Mark Konkol grudgingly admires Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson’s plan to defend himself against bank and income tax fraud charges—calling witnesses to testify he’s “disorganized and inattentive.”
‘These articles are discouraging.’ The new executive editor of the Tribune has responded to The Atlantic’s critical piece about the paper’s new ownership (most-clicked link in yesterday’s Chicago Public Square): “This newsroom is stronger than anyone in the media or Twittersphere can possibly understand. … They’re going to have to write articles about that, too” (fifth item in Robert Feder’s column).
■ Newcity publisher Brian Hieggelke: “What’s tragic is how we all saw this coming.”
Scooters’ return. The City Council has signed off on renewal of Chicago’s dockless rental electric scooter program …
■ … with a requirement that scooters sound an alarm when they’re ridden on a sidewalk.
■ Trib columnist Rex Huppke flags concerns about scooters’ eco-friendliness.
■ Complaining the practice serves to “encourage people to drive to and from taverns,” a Chicago alderman wants to deny valet licenses for bars.
‘The scatterbrain defense.’ Patch columnist Mark Konkol grudgingly admires Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson’s plan to defend himself against bank and income tax fraud charges—calling witnesses to testify he’s “disorganized and inattentive.”
■ Ex-Trump strategist Steve Bannon faces the prospect of criminal contempt charges for his refusal to provide documents and testimony to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot …
■ … setting up a showdown over executive privilege.
Come on up to the house. More than 100 of the Chicago area’s “architecturally, historically and culturally significant sites”—many normally closed to the public—are open, free, as Open House Chicago climaxes this weekend.
■ A map helps find spots near you.
■ After two years, lions have returned to Lincoln Park Zoo—in a habitat twice as large …
■ … but tigers won’t be back.
‘You can’t hold an unqualified man down.’ Columnist Lyz Lenz’s Dingus of the Week: New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, who’s quitting to run for governor of Oregon.
■ Speaking of governors, here’s a never-before-published 1966 photo of Michigan Republican Gov. George Romney …
■ … who foreshadowed his son’s break with Donald Trump by cutting himself off from the Republican Party’s presidential candidate in 1964.
Digital disarmament.
■ The Conversation: What to consider before deleting a Facebook account.
■ Consumer Reports: Four things to do with an old laptop.
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* With a nod to George Harrison. You know—of the Beatles?