This edition of Chicago Public Square comes to you free—thanks to generous support from readers including Tim Spencer, Joseph Sjostrom, Susan Swords Steffen, Fredric Stein and Leslie Sutphen. Join them for a few pennies a day here. And now, the news:
‘Homicidal policing.’ As protesters gathered outside a suburban police headquarters to protest a white cop’s killing of a nightclub’s black security guard who was himself responding to a shooting, village trustees failed to show up for a board meeting.
■ The police chief praises the victim: “A brave man … doing his best to end an active shooter situation.”
■ The cop responsible is on leave, and state police are investigating.
■ Vox’s P.R. Lockhart: “Black men aren’t allowed to be the good guy with a gun.”
■ In Chicago, The Intercept reports,
‘We have won more than any other city for the last five years.’ Mayor Emanuel is looking on the bright side after Chicago’s failure to place in Amazon’s HQ beauty pageant.
■ Look at it this way: It’s $2.8 billion Illinois can blow in some other way.
■ A Tribune editorial: “Amazon voted against Illinois by a margin of 55,000-0.”
■ An Austin, Texas, ad agency has mocked up a satiric Alexa apology to Chicago and other cities.
■ For the first time in American history, suburban poverty has eclipsed urban poverty—and the Better Government Association and WBEZ offer a close look at a Chicago suburb that exemplifies the trend.
‘Yes, I’m running for mayor.’ A week after winning re-election as Illinois comptroller, Susana Mendoza has confirmed one of local politics’ worst-kept secrets: She’s launching another campaign …
■ … as a former Chicago school principal drops out of the running.
■ Crain’s has an updated scorecard of who’s running and who’s not.
‘This is why I am rightly no longer CEO.’ The chief of Chicago’s largest charter school network has revealed why he’s retiring: He’s under investigation for inappropriate behavior toward young female alumnae.
■ The Washington Post in 2014: His network of schools suspended kids for not sitting up straight.
The Hideout’s plea. A beloved venue endangered by Chicago’s massive Lincoln Yards development is urging its fans to turn out for a Planning Department meeting tonight.
■ The word oriental’s offensive connotation is one reason Chicago’s Oriental Theatre is getting a new name.
■ Renovation of the 93-year-old Uptown Theatre has passed a big milestone.
■ Mayor Emanuel’s final city budget—which leaves a big elephant unaddressed—is in position for easy approval at today’s City Council meeting …
■ … which you can watch live here.
Michelle Obama swag. Hoodies, caps, candles and onesies were on sale for what the Sun-Times’ Lynn Sweet calls “robust prices” at the former first lady’s Oprahganza last night in Chicago.
■ Stephen Colbert is mocking Melania Trump …
■ … for what a CNN analyst calls a dangerous move.
Acosta’s ‘martyrdom.’ Politico’s Jack Shafer classifies a CNN reporter banned from the White House as someone “better at lecturing than asking a question.”
■ CNN’s lawsuit over the matter has been set for a hearing this afternoon before a judge the president appointed,
■ NBC’s John Harwood: “A week later it’s clear the midterms did produce a blue wave.”
■ In Florida’s heated election recounts, ballot-counting machines have been overheating.
‘If you have ever wondered what I would recommend to public-spirited people who want a better press, this is it.’ Influential journalism professor Jay Rosen (The People Formerly Known as the Audience) recommends you support a new journalism initiative. (And if it reminds you in some ways of Chicago Public Square, that’s because your Square publisher is a longtime fan of Rosen and so has followed his recommendation.)
■ The Daily Beast’s new editor-in-chief pledges to “call bulls__t on the things that need to be called bulls__t on.”
Ironic Correction Dept. (Now with even more ironic corrections to the corrections!) The link in yesterday’s Chicago Public Square to the newly codified Square corrections policy was … incorrect. Thanks to reader
■ And vigilant Barry Koehler