Labor lost. U.S. Labor Secretary Alex Acosta is quitting, under fire for what even Trump-sympathetic Tribune columnist John Kass called (in a column written before the resignation) “kid-glove treatment of billionaire child sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.”
‘Protest.’ The Trib’s Mary Schmich says joining this weekend’s demonstrations against the Trump administration’s “human concentration camps” for migrant refugees is “perfect … for the heart and soul.”
■ Politico says organizers of Saturday’s rally are locking out Mayor Lightfoot until or unless she formally orders Chicago Police not to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.
■ A U.S. House Oversight Committee report released today concludes at least 18 migrant kids under the age of 2—including 9 under the age of 1—were separated from parents for up to 6 months.
■ The Intercept: Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost—who condemned as “completely inappropriate” border patrol agents’ secret Facebook group filled with racist, vulgar, and sexist content—was a member of that group.
■ … but, the Sun-Times’ Marlen Garcia laments, Trump may nevertheless have scared millions of immigrants into not filling out their forms. (Cartoon: Hey, it’s Keith J. Taylor again!)
■ Vox: Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren’s immigration overhaul plan goes much further than many Democrats have suggested.
‘Couldn’t get him out of Congress fast enough!’ In a late-night Twitterstorm, the president lashed out at ex-House Speaker Paul Ryan, whose (sure, now) criticism of Trump appears in a new book, American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump.
■ The Onion celebrates Ryan’s “deep, unwavering commitment to shying away from every one of his civic responsibilities.”
‘Chance the Snapper.’ That’s the winner of a Block Club Chicago contest to name the alligator at large in the Humboldt Park Lagoon.
■ Your questions answered: How it may have gotten there, how experts could remove it.
■ How to cook a whole alligator at home.
■ Meanwhile, the Trib reports, forget those myths about Chicago being impervious to tornadoes.
Dogged pursuit. Updating coverage: R. Kelly was walking his dog last night when he was arrested on federal sex-crime charges—which come on top of multiple state charges.
■ Read the indictment: “… to recruit women and girls to engage in illegal sexual activity with KELLY.”
Marriott accused. Washington, D.C., is suing the hotel company, accusing it of bilking customers with “resort fees” not advertised up front.
■ 100,000 smoke detectors are being recalled because they may not sound during a fire.
Newspapers’ grande setback. Ending an almost 20-year tradition, Starbucks plans to stop selling newspapers in its stores nationwide.
■ A longtime science writer for the Trib is dead.
‘Maybe Steve Dahl wasn’t actually saying, Hey, just bring your black music in, we’re going to blow it up, but it’s funny how that’s what happened.’ House music pioneer Vince Lawrence, a 15-year-old usher at Comiskey Park during Dahl’s infamous “Disco Demolition” 40 years ago tonight, recalls the event’s ugliness.
■ The day after, your Square publisher delivered his debut newscast on WXRT-FM, burying the Demolition story close to the end. (Newly digitized archival audio.)
■ WLS-AM morning mouth Mancow Mueller is hosting a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser for indicted former Trump adviser Roger Stone.
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