[No Chicago Public Square Monday, Labor Day. Back Tuesday. But get news updates through the weekend by following Square on Facebook and Twitter.]
‘SOMETHING THAT HASN’T HAPPENED.’ A weather researcher says nothing in “our modern era of observations” rivals devastation wrought by Harvey.
■ Gas prices—and shortages—are on the way up across the country.
■ The New York Times: Harvey hit rich and poor alike.
■ Forbes commentary: “Buy and bulldoze Houston’s most flooded homes.”
■ CBS News: What not to do after your home has been flooded.
■ Hospitals are bracing for a massive post-Harvey patient surge.
■ Texas Republicans helped that smoking chemical plant lobby against safety rules.
■ As of Friday morning, Houston’s shelters were harboring about 12,000 people.
■ Among Harvey refugees who’ve arrived at O’Hare: An ex-Bull.
■ And here comes Hurricane Irma.
‘WE WITNESSED A VIOLATION OF OUR CONSTITUTION.’ In an email to supporters, gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy has condemned the public education funding bill Gov. Rauner signed into law, because it includes “a $75 million taxpayer-funded credit … to help fund private schools.”
■ Chicago’s Catholic Cardinal Blase Cupich is taking a victory lap for brokering the deal.
■ Rauner got a standing ovation as he signed the bill, which backers say means another $450 million for Chicago schools this year.
■ A Tribune quiz: Can you match the gubernatorial candidate to his running mate?
MURDER ON VIDEO. A Humboldt Park killing caught on surveillance camera video is fueling concerns about the neighborhood’s block parties.
■ A Tribune editorial: “Labor Day weekend … will contribute to the tally of destruction.”
■ The father of a man killed by a Chicago cop six years ago wants a special prosecutor to investigate.
■ Who will buy a historic hotel that used to host Al Capone?
SCORECARDS, GET YOUR SCORECARDS.
■ One of the former leaders of DeVry University, which paid $100 million to settle federal claims it misled students, is the Trump administration’s choice to head the Education Department program that polices colleges for student aid fraud.
■ The Trump appointee who’s headed the Energy Department’s Office of Indian Energy is quitting after discovery of racist and anti-Semitic tweets from his account.
■ Embattled Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke is quitting, and Politico says he’ll likely take a job with the Trump administration—but “won’t be offered a Senate-confirmed role because his nomination would face opposition from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.”
■ ProPublica: The administration has been quietly hiring political staffers to regulate industries they previously worked for.
■ The Treasury Department’s inspector general will investigate the Eclipse Day trip to Fort Knox by Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and his brand-aware wife, Louise Linton.
■ A new play brings to the stage one of comics’ first superheroines—a character created in Chicago.
■ Leonardo DiCaprio is rumored a candidate to play the Joker in a Martin Scorsese-produced movie.
SEEKING SWEET REVENGE. An Illinois man is suing the maker of Starburst candy, complaining the front of a package boasted 130 calories per serving when the nutritional chart on the back said 140.
■ Commonwealth Edison customers could see an average credit of $14 on their bills next month.
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
■ Ever-alert reader Mike Braden—who in a more perfect world would be on the Square payroll (but, hey, I did buy him lunch a few weeks ago)—noted a link missing for yesterday’s item about an arrest in a Red Line shooting.
■ Be first to spot a mistake in Square, email Tips@ChicagoPublicSquare.com, and see your name here, too.
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