‘He’s admitting everything.’ Wonkette’s Evan Hurst is again live-blogging today’s impeachment hearing testimony from U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland.
■ The Tribune’s Eric Zorn: Bill Clinton testified under oath during his scandal, so President Trump should, too.
■ Zorn’s colleague Mary Schmich finds the hearings have inspired “impeachment multi-taskers”—people listening while doing laundry, mopping floors, cleaning toilets …
‘Dear debate moderators …’ The New York Times’ David Leonhardt begs the four women leading tonight’s Democratic presidential meetup: “Please don’t start with Medicare.”
■ Chicago Foundation for Women President Felicia Davis recommends these questions.
■ How to see the debate …
■ … or, if you have a smart speaker, try saying “Play MSNBC.”
A [ride-]‘Hail Mary.’ Mayor Lightfoot dismisses as a “distraction” Uber’s counteroffer to derail her plan to slap congestion fees on shared rides.
■ Key parts of the mayor’s budget—including those fees—have passed the City Council Finance Committee.
Cop shot. [Correcting] A Chicago police officer was shot and wounded in a gunfight on the Northwest Side
■ The family of a woman hit by a Chicago squad car is suing the city, accusing police of an intentional reckless act.
■ A judge has rejected a request to clear the record of an ex-Chicago police detective convicted of recklessly shooting and killing a 22-year-old woman.
■ Buffalo Grove police are hunting the ex-husband of a woman killed in a double homicide.
‘Slave for sale (NAPERVILLE).’ Police are considering hate crime charges against high school students who shared a racist post featuring a black student’s photo.
■ A DePaul University student has been charged by the FBI with writing computer code to help the Islamic State spread propaganda.
‘Taking away their food assistance isn’t going to help them find work.’ A spokesman for the Greater Chicago Food Depository is among those sounding the alarm about the impending loss of food stamps for 50,000 Cook County recipients—unless they find jobs.
■ Behind the shift: Federal law limiting food stamps in areas with low unemployment (March 19 link).
Bad toys. The watchdog group World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) has released its list of the year’s most dangerous playthings.■ A new Netflix series, The Toys That Made Us, spotlights true stories behind some of the biggest toy brands.
■ From 1998: An audio interview with the author of a book about the Toy Wars between G.I. Joe, Barbie and the companies that made them.
‘A final bird flip to Chicago journalism from Michael Ferro, citizen of self-interest.’ Chicago Tribune culture writer Steve Johnson is among those sounding the alarm about ex-Tribune Publishing Co. Chairman Michael Ferro’s decision to sell his shares to Alden Global Capital—which has “a well-established history of harming media institutions and journalists.”
■ The guild representing the Trib’s editorial employees says it’s “deeply concerned.”
■ From 2018: Alden Global shows what would have happened if Gordon Gekko had bought newspapers.
■ Newspapers across the country are headed for hard times.
■ But email newsletters (ahem) are on the rise.
■ … where Reader publisher Tracy Baim announced the company’s decision to adopt a nonprofit business model.
Speaking of which … Reader support keeps Chicago Public Square independently free for, well, everyone else. So thanks to Harlene Ellin, Harla Hutchinson, Hank DeZutter, Gil Arias, George Macke and Gene Kannenberg Jr. Why not join them?
■ … and thanks to reader Mike Braden for corrections to this edition.
