Not so disastrous—yet. Gov. Pritzker on Tuesday preemptively issued a disaster declaration for Illinois ahead of the snowstorm that now has descended on the state …
■ … dropping 6 inches on parts of Chicago …
■ … and it’s not over.
■ Chicago Public Schools planned classes as usual …
■ … although plenty of suburban schools went the other way.
■ Prognosticating pet Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, foretelling six more weeks of winter …
■ … at least, for those who put stock in what FiveThirtyEight calls the “Groundhog Day industrial complex.”
■ The Conversation: Big snowstorms are, counterintuitively, consistent with a warming climate.
Time’s up. Mayor Lightfoot’s deadline for city workers to get fully vaccinated has now passed—which means it’s time for her to put up or shut up on the threat to suspend or fire hundreds who haven’t complied …
■ … which seems to have been effective in driving up the city’s vax rates.
■ Austria’s begun criminalizing vaccine holdouts.
■ Inspired by Block Club Chicago reporting, a state lawmaker is proposing laws to crack down on shady COVID testing operations.
■ The First Aid Kit health care newsletter finds a bonus “non-crappy” benefit in the new No Surprises Act: More power for consumers to shop around in search of less-expensive treatment.
Scandal shocker. The Daily Beast reports that Illinois Rep. Marie Newman, who’s under investigation for agreeing—and then reneging—on a deal to hire someone who said he wouldn’t run against her in exchange for a position on her staff actually hired him.
■ He tells Politico (middle of today’s Illinois Playbook) “I feel like I’m in a soap opera.”
■ A U.S. senator’s stroke casts a shadow over Democrats’ ability to get stuff done.
Pritzker preview. Politico’s Shia Kapos looks ahead to the governor’s budget address at noon—including plans for tax relief.
■ Three months after the Chicago City Council approved what was hailed as the largest “universal basic income” program in the U.S.—$31.5 million for 5,000 needy families—the Sun-Times reports not one $500-a-month check has been sent and not one application accepted.
‘Horrifying.’ That’s how White House press secretary Jen Psaki describes a rash of bomb threats to more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities across the country.
■ The FBI says it’s on the case.
■ The Onion: “School Calendar Jumps To March 1 After Critical Race Theory Ban Prohibits Month Of February.”
‘When you have to offer a second apology for something you said, you might have messed up the first one.’ Poynter’s Tom Jones sorts out the controversy over Whoopi Goldberg’s comments on the Holocaust …
■ … for which ABC News has suspended her …
■ From 2014: How Goldberg’s show, The View, came to be under the news division’s purview.
■ Hate-crime charges have been filed against a man in connection with an anti-Semitic vandalism spree on Chicago’s Far North Side.
■ The Washington football team formerly known as Redskins has a new name: Commanders.
And now, Mary Trump. Add Donald Trump’s niece to the ranks of those yanking their music and podcasts off Spotify to protest its distribution of COVID disinformation.
■ The White House wants Spotify to do more than it has.
■ In the market for Spotify alternatives? Amazon Music and Apple Music are offering free trials.
What’s next for Chicago media? Your Chicago Public Square columnist probably doesn’t know more than you do, but that didn’t stop the Publicity Club of Chicago from extending an invitation to serve on a virtual panel discussion today at noon. You can register to join the fun here.
■ Media watchdog Robert Feder: The newly merged Sun-Times and WBEZ 91.5-FM are both in the hunt for new executive editors.
■ The New York Times has passed the 10-million-subscribers mark, securing its title as the world’s biggest subscription-based news company.
■ Wordle’s newly minted millionaire creator tells Time after selling out to the Times: “Maybe I’m an idiot.”
■ Columnist Parker Malloy warns: “Newsweek is not really Newsweek, and it hasn’t been for a long time.”
■ … but none of them got a perfect score. The quiz remains live indefinitely, and the first person to get 100% will also get a hat. So play on.
■ Readers Charlie Pajor and Paul Clark made this edition better.
Last call. Voting ends at noon today for the Reader’s Best of Chicago poll. Kick in a vote or four for Square, won’tcha?
■ And if it feels like you’ve been getting this pitch since forever, well … it is Groundhog Day.
Not so disastrous—yet. Gov. Pritzker on Tuesday preemptively issued a disaster declaration for Illinois ahead of the snowstorm that now has descended on the state …
■ … dropping 6 inches on parts of Chicago …
■ … and it’s not over.
■ Chicago Public Schools planned classes as usual …
■ … although plenty of suburban schools went the other way.
■ Prognosticating pet Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, foretelling six more weeks of winter …
■ … at least, for those who put stock in what FiveThirtyEight calls the “Groundhog Day industrial complex.”
■ The Conversation: Big snowstorms are, counterintuitively, consistent with a warming climate.
Time’s up. Mayor Lightfoot’s deadline for city workers to get fully vaccinated has now passed—which means it’s time for her to put up or shut up on the threat to suspend or fire hundreds who haven’t complied …
■ … which seems to have been effective in driving up the city’s vax rates.
■ Austria’s begun criminalizing vaccine holdouts.
■ Inspired by Block Club Chicago reporting, a state lawmaker is proposing laws to crack down on shady COVID testing operations.
■ The First Aid Kit health care newsletter finds a bonus “non-crappy” benefit in the new No Surprises Act: More power for consumers to shop around in search of less-expensive treatment.
Scandal shocker. The Daily Beast reports that Illinois Rep. Marie Newman, who’s under investigation for agreeing—and then reneging—on a deal to hire someone who said he wouldn’t run against her in exchange for a position on her staff actually hired him.
■ He tells Politico (middle of today’s Illinois Playbook) “I feel like I’m in a soap opera.”
■ A U.S. senator’s stroke casts a shadow over Democrats’ ability to get stuff done.
Pritzker preview. Politico’s Shia Kapos looks ahead to the governor’s budget address at noon—including plans for tax relief.
■ Three months after the Chicago City Council approved what was hailed as the largest “universal basic income” program in the U.S.—$31.5 million for 5,000 needy families—the Sun-Times reports not one $500-a-month check has been sent and not one application accepted.
‘Horrifying.’ That’s how White House press secretary Jen Psaki describes a rash of bomb threats to more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities across the country.
■ The FBI says it’s on the case.
■ The Onion: “School Calendar Jumps To March 1 After Critical Race Theory Ban Prohibits Month Of February.”
‘When you have to offer a second apology for something you said, you might have messed up the first one.’ Poynter’s Tom Jones sorts out the controversy over Whoopi Goldberg’s comments on the Holocaust …
■ … for which ABC News has suspended her …
■ From 2014: How Goldberg’s show, The View, came to be under the news division’s purview.
■ Hate-crime charges have been filed against a man in connection with an anti-Semitic vandalism spree on Chicago’s Far North Side.
■ The Washington football team formerly known as Redskins has a new name: Commanders.
And now, Mary Trump. Add Donald Trump’s niece to the ranks of those yanking their music and podcasts off Spotify to protest its distribution of COVID disinformation.
■ The White House wants Spotify to do more than it has.
■ In the market for Spotify alternatives? Amazon Music and Apple Music are offering free trials.
What’s next for Chicago media? Your Chicago Public Square columnist probably doesn’t know more than you do, but that didn’t stop the Publicity Club of Chicago from extending an invitation to serve on a virtual panel discussion today at noon. You can register to join the fun here.
■ Media watchdog Robert Feder: The newly merged Sun-Times and WBEZ 91.5-FM are both in the hunt for new executive editors.
■ The New York Times has passed the 10-million-subscribers mark, securing its title as the world’s biggest subscription-based news company.
■ Wordle’s newly minted millionaire creator tells Time after selling out to the Times: “Maybe I’m an idiot.”
■ Columnist Parker Malloy warns: “Newsweek is not really Newsweek, and it hasn’t been for a long time.”
■ … but none of them got a perfect score. The quiz remains live indefinitely, and the first person to get 100% will also get a hat. So play on.
■ Readers Charlie Pajor and Paul Clark made this edition better.
Last call. Voting ends at noon today for the Reader’s Best of Chicago poll. Kick in a vote or four for Square, won’tcha?
■ And if it feels like you’ve been getting this pitch since forever, well … it is Groundhog Day.
Not so disastrous—yet. Gov. Pritzker on Tuesday preemptively issued a disaster declaration for Illinois ahead of the snowstorm that now has descended on the state …
■ … dropping 6 inches on parts of Chicago …
■ … and it’s not over.
■ Chicago Public Schools planned classes as usual …
■ … although plenty of suburban schools went the other way.
■ Prognosticating pet Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, foretelling six more weeks of winter …
■ … at least, for those who put stock in what FiveThirtyEight calls the “Groundhog Day industrial complex.”
■ The Conversation: Big snowstorms are, counterintuitively, consistent with a warming climate.
Time’s up. Mayor Lightfoot’s deadline for city workers to get fully vaccinated has now passed—which means it’s time for her to put up or shut up on the threat to suspend or fire hundreds who haven’t complied …
■ … which seems to have been effective in driving up the city’s vax rates.
■ Austria’s begun criminalizing vaccine holdouts.
■ Inspired by Block Club Chicago reporting, a state lawmaker is proposing laws to crack down on shady COVID testing operations.
■ The First Aid Kit health care newsletter finds a bonus “non-crappy” benefit in the new No Surprises Act: More power for consumers to shop around in search of less-expensive treatment.
Scandal shocker. The Daily Beast reports that Illinois Rep. Marie Newman, who’s under investigation for agreeing—and then reneging—on a deal to hire someone who said he wouldn’t run against her in exchange for a position on her staff actually hired him.
■ He tells Politico (middle of today’s Illinois Playbook) “I feel like I’m in a soap opera.”
■ A U.S. senator’s stroke casts a shadow over Democrats’ ability to get stuff done.
Pritzker preview. Politico’s Shia Kapos looks ahead to the governor’s budget address at noon—including plans for tax relief.
■ Three months after the Chicago City Council approved what was hailed as the largest “universal basic income” program in the U.S.—$31.5 million for 5,000 needy families—the Sun-Times reports not one $500-a-month check has been sent and not one application accepted.
‘Horrifying.’ That’s how White House press secretary Jen Psaki describes a rash of bomb threats to more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities across the country.
■ The FBI says it’s on the case.
■ The Onion: “School Calendar Jumps To March 1 After Critical Race Theory Ban Prohibits Month Of February.”
‘When you have to offer a second apology for something you said, you might have messed up the first one.’ Poynter’s Tom Jones sorts out the controversy over Whoopi Goldberg’s comments on the Holocaust …
■ … for which ABC News has suspended her …
■ From 2014: How Goldberg’s show, The View, came to be under the news division’s purview.
■ Hate-crime charges have been filed against a man in connection with an anti-Semitic vandalism spree on Chicago’s Far North Side.
■ The Washington football team formerly known as Redskins has a new name: Commanders.
And now, Mary Trump. Add Donald Trump’s niece to the ranks of those yanking their music and podcasts off Spotify to protest its distribution of COVID disinformation.
■ The White House wants Spotify to do more than it has.
■ In the market for Spotify alternatives? Amazon Music and Apple Music are offering free trials.
What’s next for Chicago media? Your Chicago Public Square columnist probably doesn’t know more than you do, but that didn’t stop the Publicity Club of Chicago from extending an invitation to serve on a virtual panel discussion today at noon. You can register to join the fun here.
■ Media watchdog Robert Feder: The newly merged Sun-Times and WBEZ 91.5-FM are both in the hunt for new executive editors.
■ The New York Times has passed the 10-million-subscribers mark, securing its title as the world’s biggest subscription-based news company.
■ Wordle’s newly minted millionaire creator tells Time after selling out to the Times: “Maybe I’m an idiot.”
■ Columnist Parker Malloy warns: “Newsweek is not really Newsweek, and it hasn’t been for a long time.”
■ … but none of them got a perfect score. The quiz remains live indefinitely, and the first person to get 100% will also get a hat. So play on.
■ Readers Charlie Pajor and Paul Clark made this edition better.
Last call. Voting ends at noon today for the Reader’s Best of Chicago poll. Kick in a vote or four for Square, won’tcha?
■ And if it feels like you’ve been getting this pitch since forever, well … it is Groundhog Day.
Not so disastrous—yet. Gov. Pritzker on Tuesday preemptively issued a disaster declaration for Illinois ahead of the snowstorm that now has descended on the state …
■ … dropping 6 inches on parts of Chicago …
■ … and it’s not over.
■ Chicago Public Schools planned classes as usual …
■ … although plenty of suburban schools went the other way.
■ Prognosticating pet Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, foretelling six more weeks of winter …
■ … at least, for those who put stock in what FiveThirtyEight calls the “Groundhog Day industrial complex.”
■ The Conversation: Big snowstorms are, counterintuitively, consistent with a warming climate.
Time’s up. Mayor Lightfoot’s deadline for city workers to get fully vaccinated has now passed—which means it’s time for her to put up or shut up on the threat to suspend or fire hundreds who haven’t complied …
■ … which seems to have been effective in driving up the city’s vax rates.
■ Austria’s begun criminalizing vaccine holdouts.
■ Inspired by Block Club Chicago reporting, a state lawmaker is proposing laws to crack down on shady COVID testing operations.
■ The First Aid Kit health care newsletter finds a bonus “non-crappy” benefit in the new No Surprises Act: More power for consumers to shop around in search of less-expensive treatment.
Scandal shocker. The Daily Beast reports that Illinois Rep. Marie Newman, who’s under investigation for agreeing—and then reneging—on a deal to hire someone who said he wouldn’t run against her in exchange for a position on her staff actually hired him.
■ He tells Politico (middle of today’s Illinois Playbook) “I feel like I’m in a soap opera.”
■ A U.S. senator’s stroke casts a shadow over Democrats’ ability to get stuff done.
Pritzker preview. Politico’s Shia Kapos looks ahead to the governor’s budget address at noon—including plans for tax relief.
■ Three months after the Chicago City Council approved what was hailed as the largest “universal basic income” program in the U.S.—$31.5 million for 5,000 needy families—the Sun-Times reports not one $500-a-month check has been sent and not one application accepted.
‘Horrifying.’ That’s how White House press secretary Jen Psaki describes a rash of bomb threats to more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities across the country.
■ The FBI says it’s on the case.
■ The Onion: “School Calendar Jumps To March 1 After Critical Race Theory Ban Prohibits Month Of February.”
‘When you have to offer a second apology for something you said, you might have messed up the first one.’ Poynter’s Tom Jones sorts out the controversy over Whoopi Goldberg’s comments on the Holocaust …
■ … for which ABC News has suspended her …
■ From 2014: How Goldberg’s show, The View, came to be under the news division’s purview.
■ Hate-crime charges have been filed against a man in connection with an anti-Semitic vandalism spree on Chicago’s Far North Side.
■ The Washington football team formerly known as Redskins has a new name: Commanders.
And now, Mary Trump. Add Donald Trump’s niece to the ranks of those yanking their music and podcasts off Spotify to protest its distribution of COVID disinformation.
■ The White House wants Spotify to do more than it has.
■ In the market for Spotify alternatives? Amazon Music and Apple Music are offering free trials.
What’s next for Chicago media? Your Chicago Public Square columnist probably doesn’t know more than you do, but that didn’t stop the Publicity Club of Chicago from extending an invitation to serve on a virtual panel discussion today at noon. You can register to join the fun here.
■ Media watchdog Robert Feder: The newly merged Sun-Times and WBEZ 91.5-FM are both in the hunt for new executive editors.
■ The New York Times has passed the 10-million-subscribers mark, securing its title as the world’s biggest subscription-based news company.
■ Wordle’s newly minted millionaire creator tells Time after selling out to the Times: “Maybe I’m an idiot.”
■ Columnist Parker Malloy warns: “Newsweek is not really Newsweek, and it hasn’t been for a long time.”
■ … but none of them got a perfect score. The quiz remains live indefinitely, and the first person to get 100% will also get a hat. So play on.
■ Readers Charlie Pajor and Paul Clark made this edition better.
Last call. Voting ends at noon today for the Reader’s Best of Chicago poll. Kick in a vote or four for Square, won’tcha?
■ And if it feels like you’ve been getting this pitch since forever, well … it is Groundhog Day.
Not so disastrous—yet. Gov. Pritzker on Tuesday preemptively issued a disaster declaration for Illinois ahead of the snowstorm that now has descended on the state …
■ … dropping 6 inches on parts of Chicago …
■ … and it’s not over.
■ Chicago Public Schools planned classes as usual …
■ … although plenty of suburban schools went the other way.
■ Prognosticating pet Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, foretelling six more weeks of winter …
■ … at least, for those who put stock in what FiveThirtyEight calls the “Groundhog Day industrial complex.”
■ The Conversation: Big snowstorms are, counterintuitively, consistent with a warming climate.
Time’s up. Mayor Lightfoot’s deadline for city workers to get fully vaccinated has now passed—which means it’s time for her to put up or shut up on the threat to suspend or fire hundreds who haven’t complied …
■ … which seems to have been effective in driving up the city’s vax rates.
■ Austria’s begun criminalizing vaccine holdouts.
■ Inspired by Block Club Chicago reporting, a state lawmaker is proposing laws to crack down on shady COVID testing operations.
■ The First Aid Kit health care newsletter finds a bonus “non-crappy” benefit in the new No Surprises Act: More power for consumers to shop around in search of less-expensive treatment.
Scandal shocker. The Daily Beast reports that Illinois Rep. Marie Newman, who’s under investigation for agreeing—and then reneging—on a deal to hire someone who said he wouldn’t run against her in exchange for a position on her staff actually hired him.
■ He tells Politico (middle of today’s Illinois Playbook) “I feel like I’m in a soap opera.”
■ A U.S. senator’s stroke casts a shadow over Democrats’ ability to get stuff done.
Pritzker preview. Politico’s Shia Kapos looks ahead to the governor’s budget address at noon—including plans for tax relief.
■ Three months after the Chicago City Council approved what was hailed as the largest “universal basic income” program in the U.S.—$31.5 million for 5,000 needy families—the Sun-Times reports not one $500-a-month check has been sent and not one application accepted.
‘Horrifying.’ That’s how White House press secretary Jen Psaki describes a rash of bomb threats to more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities across the country.
■ The FBI says it’s on the case.
■ The Onion: “School Calendar Jumps To March 1 After Critical Race Theory Ban Prohibits Month Of February.”
‘When you have to offer a second apology for something you said, you might have messed up the first one.’ Poynter’s Tom Jones sorts out the controversy over Whoopi Goldberg’s comments on the Holocaust …
■ … for which ABC News has suspended her …
■ From 2014: How Goldberg’s show, The View, came to be under the news division’s purview.
■ Hate-crime charges have been filed against a man in connection with an anti-Semitic vandalism spree on Chicago’s Far North Side.
■ The Washington football team formerly known as Redskins has a new name: Commanders.
And now, Mary Trump. Add Donald Trump’s niece to the ranks of those yanking their music and podcasts off Spotify to protest its distribution of COVID disinformation.
■ The White House wants Spotify to do more than it has.
■ In the market for Spotify alternatives? Amazon Music and Apple Music are offering free trials.
What’s next for Chicago media? Your Chicago Public Square columnist probably doesn’t know more than you do, but that didn’t stop the Publicity Club of Chicago from extending an invitation to serve on a virtual panel discussion today at noon. You can register to join the fun here.
■ Media watchdog Robert Feder: The newly merged Sun-Times and WBEZ 91.5-FM are both in the hunt for new executive editors.
■ The New York Times has passed the 10-million-subscribers mark, securing its title as the world’s biggest subscription-based news company.
■ Wordle’s newly minted millionaire creator tells Time after selling out to the Times: “Maybe I’m an idiot.”
■ Columnist Parker Malloy warns: “Newsweek is not really Newsweek, and it hasn’t been for a long time.”
■ … but none of them got a perfect score. The quiz remains live indefinitely, and the first person to get 100% will also get a hat. So play on.
■ Readers Charlie Pajor and Paul Clark made this edition better.
Last call. Voting ends at noon today for the Reader’s Best of Chicago poll. Kick in a vote or four for Square, won’tcha?
■ And if it feels like you’ve been getting this pitch since forever, well … it is Groundhog Day.
Not so disastrous—yet. Gov. Pritzker on Tuesday preemptively issued a disaster declaration for Illinois ahead of the snowstorm that now has descended on the state …
■ … dropping 6 inches on parts of Chicago …
■ … and it’s not over.
■ Chicago Public Schools planned classes as usual …
■ … although plenty of suburban schools went the other way.
■ Prognosticating pet Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, foretelling six more weeks of winter …
■ … at least, for those who put stock in what FiveThirtyEight calls the “Groundhog Day industrial complex.”
■ The Conversation: Big snowstorms are, counterintuitively, consistent with a warming climate.
Time’s up. Mayor Lightfoot’s deadline for city workers to get fully vaccinated has now passed—which means it’s time for her to put up or shut up on the threat to suspend or fire hundreds who haven’t complied …
■ … which seems to have been effective in driving up the city’s vax rates.
■ Austria’s begun criminalizing vaccine holdouts.
■ Inspired by Block Club Chicago reporting, a state lawmaker is proposing laws to crack down on shady COVID testing operations.
■ The First Aid Kit health care newsletter finds a bonus “non-crappy” benefit in the new No Surprises Act: More power for consumers to shop around in search of less-expensive treatment.
Scandal shocker. The Daily Beast reports that Illinois Rep. Marie Newman, who’s under investigation for agreeing—and then reneging—on a deal to hire someone who said he wouldn’t run against her in exchange for a position on her staff actually hired him.
■ He tells Politico (middle of today’s Illinois Playbook) “I feel like I’m in a soap opera.”
■ A U.S. senator’s stroke casts a shadow over Democrats’ ability to get stuff done.
Pritzker preview. Politico’s Shia Kapos looks ahead to the governor’s budget address at noon—including plans for tax relief.
■ Three months after the Chicago City Council approved what was hailed as the largest “universal basic income” program in the U.S.—$31.5 million for 5,000 needy families—the Sun-Times reports not one $500-a-month check has been sent and not one application accepted.
‘Horrifying.’ That’s how White House press secretary Jen Psaki describes a rash of bomb threats to more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities across the country.
■ The FBI says it’s on the case.
■ The Onion: “School Calendar Jumps To March 1 After Critical Race Theory Ban Prohibits Month Of February.”
‘When you have to offer a second apology for something you said, you might have messed up the first one.’ Poynter’s Tom Jones sorts out the controversy over Whoopi Goldberg’s comments on the Holocaust …
■ … for which ABC News has suspended her …
■ From 2014: How Goldberg’s show, The View, came to be under the news division’s purview.
■ Hate-crime charges have been filed against a man in connection with an anti-Semitic vandalism spree on Chicago’s Far North Side.
■ The Washington football team formerly known as Redskins has a new name: Commanders.
And now, Mary Trump. Add Donald Trump’s niece to the ranks of those yanking their music and podcasts off Spotify to protest its distribution of COVID disinformation.
■ The White House wants Spotify to do more than it has.
■ In the market for Spotify alternatives? Amazon Music and Apple Music are offering free trials.
What’s next for Chicago media? Your Chicago Public Square columnist probably doesn’t know more than you do, but that didn’t stop the Publicity Club of Chicago from extending an invitation to serve on a virtual panel discussion today at noon. You can register to join the fun here.
■ Media watchdog Robert Feder: The newly merged Sun-Times and WBEZ 91.5-FM are both in the hunt for new executive editors.
■ The New York Times has passed the 10-million-subscribers mark, securing its title as the world’s biggest subscription-based news company.
■ Wordle’s newly minted millionaire creator tells Time after selling out to the Times: “Maybe I’m an idiot.”
■ Columnist Parker Malloy warns: “Newsweek is not really Newsweek, and it hasn’t been for a long time.”
■ … but none of them got a perfect score. The quiz remains live indefinitely, and the first person to get 100% will also get a hat. So play on.
■ Readers Charlie Pajor and Paul Clark made this edition better.
Last call. Voting ends at noon today for the Reader’s Best of Chicago poll. Kick in a vote or four for Square, won’tcha?
■ And if it feels like you’ve been getting this pitch since forever, well … it is Groundhog Day.
Not so disastrous—yet. Gov. Pritzker on Tuesday preemptively issued a disaster declaration for Illinois ahead of the snowstorm that now has descended on the state …
■ … dropping 6 inches on parts of Chicago …
■ … and it’s not over.
■ Chicago Public Schools planned classes as usual …
■ … although plenty of suburban schools went the other way.
■ Prognosticating pet Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, foretelling six more weeks of winter …
■ … at least, for those who put stock in what FiveThirtyEight calls the “Groundhog Day industrial complex.”
■ The Conversation: Big snowstorms are, counterintuitively, consistent with a warming climate.
Time’s up. Mayor Lightfoot’s deadline for city workers to get fully vaccinated has now passed—which means it’s time for her to put up or shut up on the threat to suspend or fire hundreds who haven’t complied …
■ … which seems to have been effective in driving up the city’s vax rates.
■ Austria’s begun criminalizing vaccine holdouts.
■ Inspired by Block Club Chicago reporting, a state lawmaker is proposing laws to crack down on shady COVID testing operations.
■ The First Aid Kit health care newsletter finds a bonus “non-crappy” benefit in the new No Surprises Act: More power for consumers to shop around in search of less-expensive treatment.
Scandal shocker. The Daily Beast reports that Illinois Rep. Marie Newman, who’s under investigation for agreeing—and then reneging—on a deal to hire someone who said he wouldn’t run against her in exchange for a position on her staff actually hired him.
■ He tells Politico (middle of today’s Illinois Playbook) “I feel like I’m in a soap opera.”
■ A U.S. senator’s stroke casts a shadow over Democrats’ ability to get stuff done.
Pritzker preview. Politico’s Shia Kapos looks ahead to the governor’s budget address at noon—including plans for tax relief.
■ Three months after the Chicago City Council approved what was hailed as the largest “universal basic income” program in the U.S.—$31.5 million for 5,000 needy families—the Sun-Times reports not one $500-a-month check has been sent and not one application accepted.
‘Horrifying.’ That’s how White House press secretary Jen Psaki describes a rash of bomb threats to more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities across the country.
■ The FBI says it’s on the case.
■ The Onion: “School Calendar Jumps To March 1 After Critical Race Theory Ban Prohibits Month Of February.”
‘When you have to offer a second apology for something you said, you might have messed up the first one.’ Poynter’s Tom Jones sorts out the controversy over Whoopi Goldberg’s comments on the Holocaust …
■ … for which ABC News has suspended her …
■ From 2014: How Goldberg’s show, The View, came to be under the news division’s purview.
■ Hate-crime charges have been filed against a man in connection with an anti-Semitic vandalism spree on Chicago’s Far North Side.
■ The Washington football team formerly known as Redskins has a new name: Commanders.
And now, Mary Trump. Add Donald Trump’s niece to the ranks of those yanking their music and podcasts off Spotify to protest its distribution of COVID disinformation.
■ The White House wants Spotify to do more than it has.
■ In the market for Spotify alternatives? Amazon Music and Apple Music are offering free trials.
What’s next for Chicago media? Your Chicago Public Square columnist probably doesn’t know more than you do, but that didn’t stop the Publicity Club of Chicago from extending an invitation to serve on a virtual panel discussion today at noon. You can register to join the fun here.
■ Media watchdog Robert Feder: The newly merged Sun-Times and WBEZ 91.5-FM are both in the hunt for new executive editors.
■ The New York Times has passed the 10-million-subscribers mark, securing its title as the world’s biggest subscription-based news company.
■ Wordle’s newly minted millionaire creator tells Time after selling out to the Times: “Maybe I’m an idiot.”
■ Columnist Parker Malloy warns: “Newsweek is not really Newsweek, and it hasn’t been for a long time.”
■ … but none of them got a perfect score. The quiz remains live indefinitely, and the first person to get 100% will also get a hat. So play on.
■ Readers Charlie Pajor and Paul Clark made this edition better.
Last call. Voting ends at noon today for the Reader’s Best of Chicago poll. Kick in a vote or four for Square, won’tcha?
■ And if it feels like you’ve been getting this pitch since forever, well … it is Groundhog Day.