‘Forever sorry.’ Sun-Times columnist Phil Kadner recalls the pain of breaking the news to a woman whose husband’s flight went down Sept. 11, 2001.
■ The Tribune’s Mary Schmich: “In the name of Sept. 11, many mistakes were made. We, as Americans, pay for those mistakes every day.”
■ Ten years ago, reporter Carol Marin looked back on her time that day in Manhattan and the challenge of “trying to reconstruct the moment that you didn’t die.”
■ The author of a new oral history of Sept. 11 reflects on the role randomness plays in our existence.
■ Updating coverage: America marks the 18th anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on American soil.
‘A warmongering charlatan who has spent far too much time circling the centers of power.’ Esquire’s Charlie Pierce reflects on President Trump’s decision to can his third national security adviser, John Bolton.
■ New York’s Jonathan Chait: “John Bolton Era Ends With No Casualties Except Bolton’s Dignity.”
■ Trib columnist Steve Chapman: “It’s a measure of Trump’s … ineptitude … that it’s hard to know if Bolton was fired for his bad ideas or his good ones.”
■ AP: Trump never liked Bolton’s mustache.■ Northeastern Illinois University students, faculty and alumni plan to protest an appearance Thursday by ex-Trump press secretary Sean Spicer.
‘An illegal patronage employment system.’ Veteran clout-fighter Michael Shakman is back in court to complain of political hiring by Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough.
■ Tribune columnist Eric Zorn: Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts should pay up on taxes he owes Cook County.
Chicago’s new road. Work has begun on the Wells-Wentworth Connector, a street that will link downtown with Chinatown and The 78—a new Near South Side neighborhood …
■ … but livable streets advocates aren’t wild about the design.
■ The CTA is getting ready for what Streetsblog Chicago’s John Greenfield calls the mother of all Chicago transit projects.
■ Chicago ranks only 22nd in Wallethub’s list of cities with the best public transportation.
A city income tax? A team of community and labor organizations is pushing a plan that would slap a 3.5% Chicago tax on Chicagoans and suburbanites earning more than $100,000 a year.
■ Mayor Lightfoot is putting the squeeze on the Chicago Firefighters Union—which backed her election.
■ … who said, “Next time someone puts them on a pedestal … show them this image.”
■ The Art Institute of Chicago is in for a major overhaul.
Radio held hostage. Network and internet connectivity for Chicago stations WXRT, WBBM, WSCR, WBBM, WUSN and WBMX has reportedly fallen victim to a ransomware attack on their parent company, Entercom Communications …
■ … which has been encouraging people who email to “contact our local markets via phones.”
■ MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow’s being sued for $10 million by a TV network she labeled “paid Russian propaganda.”
‘People said that I should be banned from posting photos of myself because I’m too ugly. So …’ When an Illinois writer with a genetic defect was mocked online for her looks, the Trib’s Nara Schoenberg explains, her response went viral …
■ … with help from, among others, the lead singer of the band Blink-182.
‘Camera is better in subtle ways you’ll never be able to comprehend but are definitely real.’ The Onion ridicules Apple’s latest round of product announcements …
■ … which include a surprisingly cheap Netflix competitor …
■ … and new iPhone software
■ Phones in Illinois schools: A distraction or a safety net?
Will Chicago Public Square make the cut? Just two days left for first-round balloting in the Reader’s Best of Chicago poll. Kick a vote or two Square’s way, why don’tcha?Thanks …
■ … to eagle-eyed Mike Braden for spotting a reversed quotation mark in this edition.