[Chicago Public Square won’t publish Monday.* Back Tuesday.]
Sunday Carjack Sunday. A new all-Cook County database of carjackings, which are nearing a two-decade record, reveals the days they’re most likely to happen—and the cars most often targeted.
■ A Sun-Times editorial praises Mayor Lightfoot’s budget for setting aside more than $12 million to help crime victims.
■ A jury took less than two hours to convict an ex-Northwestern University professor in the stabbing death of his boyfriend.
Biden-Lightfoot ‘hiccup.’ Politico reports Mayor Lightfoot yesterday bailed on President Biden’s Elk Grove Village speech.
■ NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern says the mayor used her one-on-one time with the president to complain about her treatment by his staff.
■ Biden praised Lightfoot and Gov. Pritzker for their leadership through the pandemic: “You’ve done more than about anybody I can think of in any state.”
■ And he needled Fox News.
■ See the event here.
■ Lightfoot’s campaign email spotlights her conflict with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.
Sheen happens. For the second time in two weeks, U.S. Steel pollution—this time, a “sheen” on water leaking from its Portage plant—has closed Indiana Dunes beaches …
■ … threatening the Lake Michigan drinking water used by millions in the Chicago region.
■ Block Club Chicago: New sensors are providing real-time Chicago River water quality updates.
■ Also from Block Club: Aging garbage trucks are leaking “garbage juice” stinking up Chicago alleys.
■ Chicago Reader columnist John Greenfield: Climate change means now’s the time to create a citywide network of protected bike lanes.
Not so fast. The federally indicted mayor of Crestwood told an angry crowd last night he’s decided not to quit and take a new job with the village—at the same salary.
■ He’s due in court later this month.
‘Not one, but many Chicago Fires.’ A new book suggests the conflagration of 150 years ago today may have been the work of Confederate diehards.
■ Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg explains that, although the fire began Oct. 8, it didn’t win the adjective “Great” until the next day.
■ Credit the fire with the creation of Grant Park—built on a dump of the devastation’s rubble.
■ 102-year-old Chicago historian and civil rights leader Timuel Black has entered hospice, and his supporters are raising funds to pay for his care.
Run of the city. Planning to watch, participate in … or avoid … the Chicago Marathon Sunday? Here are tips for all.
■ Macy’s is gone from Water Tower Place, but the space has been filled through the holidays with “The Dr. Seuss Experience.”
Chicago Public Squarians in the news. A long-time journalist who’s a veteran of Chicago’s most prominent newspapers—someone who’s going for now by the nom de plume “TBD” but who’s also a supporter of Chicago Public Square—has launched something novel: A novel released one chapter per month via email on Substack. But it’s not just a novel. It’s also a primer on the Chicago of half a century ago. Roseland, Chicago: 1972 comes with a disclaimer: “If you believe no one should ever read about words, ideas or events that are ugly and disturbing, then 1972 is no place for you.” Sign up free and judge for yourself here.
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* Which is still officially Columbus Day in Cook County, but Indigenous Peoples Day in Chicago Public Schools.