Pandemic’s ‘end.’ President Biden’s told Congress he’ll expire the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency declarations May 11 …
■ … thereby cutting off a raft of no-charge benefits, including tests, treatments and vaccines.
■ It may also spell the end of pandemic-related immigration policies that gutted the asylum system and let Border Patrol officers block foreign nationals at the border.
■ Next month brings an end to pandemic-boosted food benefits for the needy under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
■ A Chicago baby spent 36 days at an in-network hospital, before her parents got a huge out-of-network bill. Here’s how they fought back.
‘Fight to stop this sh**.’ Hundreds turned out in downtown Chicago last night demanding nationwide police reform in the aftermath of Tyre Nichols’ fatal beating in Memphis.
■ Columnist Eric Zorn: “How could those cops … have been so vicious AND so stupid?”
■ Daily Show guest host D.L. Hughley wryly wondered why they got arrested so promptly: “There’s something about them that looks fast-arrest-worthy.”
Illinoisans behaving badly. A Springfield man who carried a Trump flag onto the floor of the U.S. Senate on Jan. 6, 2021, has been convicted on federal charges.
■ A Central Illinois guy’s under arrest, accused of setting fire to a Planned Parenthood clinic—telling investigators he was upset his then-girlfriend had an abortion three years ago …
■ … and the FBI’s posted a reward for info on similar attacks across the country.
■ Republican Rep. George Santos (R-Crap) says he’ll step down from his assignments to the House committees on Small Business and Science, Space and Technology.
A ‘humanitarian crisis.’ A Chicago City Council member is among those worried that the city’s running out of capacity to care for thousands of migrants who’ve arrived here from other states since August.
■ A former public school’s getting rehabbed to house 200.
Groupon cuts. The Chicago-based company’s laying off another 500 workers.
■ Intelligencer explains the junkification of Amazon.
■ Popular Information reports that workers for Mariano’s parent, Kroger, are alleging massive wage theft: “I’m tired of having to beg.”
■ The Nib’s Brian McFadden explains “The Business Mindset,” beginning with these panels …
‘All good things eventually must … end.’ Sun-Times CEO Nykia Wright, who led the paper through a series of existential shifts—including its merger with WBEZ—is leaving.
■ CNN’s new CEO—the former executive producer of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert—explains why he deleted his Twitter account.
■ CNN is edging into comedy beginning Friday, picking up Bill Maher’s post-HBO segment Overtime.
‘A Nazi sympathizer who also played hockey well.’ Deadspin files an obit for Bobby Hull, “no symbol of anything other than being a ghoul, and something that the NHL, and especially the Chicago Blackhawks, should be running away from.”
■ The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus: “Hull’s off-ice transgressions can’t be set aside to celebrate his on-ice greatness.”
■ About 650 United Center concession workers were voting today on a possible strike.
Last call. Chicago Public Square ad rates have remained unchanged since June 2018, even as subscriber ranks have more than doubled—and, among other overhead costs, Mailchimp’s delivery charges have almost quadrupled. Those ad rates will rise at the end of the week, so if you’d like to lock in (what soon will seem) bargain prices, now’s the time.
■ Not an advertiser? You can always help keep Square coming with support at any level you choose.
■ Square giveth, too. Three one-month subscriptions for the paid edition of Eric Zorn’s Picayune Sentinel will go to the first three readers to write to Picayune@ChicagoPublicSquare.com.