An Illinois first. With Gov. Pritzker’s signature, the state becomes first in the nation to abolish what critics have labeled a tax on the poor: Cash bail payments for people who’ve been arrested.
■ The new law also creates a statewide certification program for cops, requires detainees get three phone calls and gives judges more sentencing discretion.
■ Surprise (not): Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin condemns the legislation as “an insult to our first responders.”
‘The mayor has demonstrated an uncanny ability … never to miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.’ Journalist and Invisible Institute executive director Jamie Kalven says Lori Lightfoot “has largely squandered” a chance for sweeping police reform.
■ Social worker Anjanette Young—whose home police wrongly raided, forcing her to stand naked as she insisted they had the wrong address—is suing the city and 12 cops.
■ A Chicago alderman says he was attacked in what seemed to be a case of mistaken identity outside a bar in his downtown ward.
‘We’ve been mocked.’ Conservative Central Illinois Republican State Sen. Darren Bailey is running for governor.
■ You may remember him as the guy who wanted Pritzker held in contempt for coronavirus safety orders (August link).
■ Ex-House Speaker and ex-Rep. Michael Madigan is now ex-chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party …
■ … creating what Politico Illinois sees as “some chaos within the party.”
Here comes the sun. Chicago’s warmup after weeks of snow and ice means lots of work for roofers …
■ … and a scramble for homeowners.
■ For the first time since the pandemic’s onset, Chicago’s lakefront is fully open again.
■ Illinois on Monday reported its lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since summer.
Vaccine ripoffs. WBEZ reports that, although coronavirus shots are supposed to be free in Illinois, some outfits are charging up to $200.
■ The Conversation: “How to really fix COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling.”
■ The Chicago Public Schools board tomorrow will consider requiring teachers and staff to declare whether they’ve been vaccinated.
■ Bloomberg: “This Just In: Vaccines Work.”
■ Journalist Dan Rather celebrates his second inoculation: “Yay, Science!”
‘Without a hint of are-you-a-dolt? in his voice.’ The Washington Post’s Robin Givhan praises the restraint displayed by President Biden’s pick for U.S. attorney general, Merrick Garland, as he explained “implicit bias” to a Republican at his Senate confirmation hearing.
■ See Day 2 of his testimony here.
■ Updating coverage: For the first time since the insurrection of Jan. 6, Congress today was to formally and publicly hear from former Capitol security officials about what the hell happened.
■ Watch here.
■ Biden’s nominee to direct the Office of Management and Budget is in trouble because she said mean things on Twitter.
Jewel-Osco strike? The union representing warehouse employees and delivery drivers for the chain has voted to authorize a walkout if they don’t get a new deal to replace one set to expire March 6.
■ Community organizers protesting discrimination against Black-owned McDonald’s franchises have launched what they say will be three months of picketing outside the company’s West Loop HQ.
Monumental debate. Leaders of the Chicago Monuments Project explain why statues of Abraham Lincoln, among others, merit discussion—and not necessarily removal …
■ … and they want your thoughts.
■ Two Lincoln scholars say removing his likeness from Chicago would be “Orwellian.”
■ Vox: Two Supreme Court cases “could destroy what remains of the Voting Rights Act.”
Unrelated developments.
■ A new book, Count Down, explains “How our modern world is threatening sperm counts, altering male and female reproductive development, and imperiling the future of the human race.”
■ For the second time in a month, a gender-reveal celebration has proven deadly.
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