Computers seized. As it investigates charges of misconduct exposed by the Tribune (Sept. 5 link), Chicago’s inspector general’s office has snatched equipment from Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin’s office.
Another ‘quiet’ neighborhood scarred. Two adults, two children and three dogs were found shot dead in their Romeoville home Sunday …
■ … and the shooter apparently remained at large. …
■ … as did ex-NFL player Sergio Brown, missing after his mother’s body was found near a creek behind her Maywood home.
■ His brother’s appeal on Instagram: “Please come home.”
■ Chicago’s weekend brought a rarity: No homicides.
‘The time to act on environmental justice is now.’ Mayor Johnson’s rolled out a package of reforms designed to reverse the practice of concentrating polluting businesses in Black and Brown communities on the South and West Sides …
■ … but his predecessors’ administrations mouthed similar words …
■ … and he didn’t commit to a timetable …
■ … which he did offer for a plan to phase in higher wages for restaurants’ tipped workers.
‘Unsafe and last-minute.’ Axios Chicago surveys criticism of Chicago’s handling of Mexican Independence Day celebrations over the weekend.
■ One solution gaining support in the City Council: Resurrect the downtown Mexican Independence Day parade discontinued years ago.
■ Activist Chicago commuters in the Trib: “Instead of cutting more transit service, it’s time to cut CTA President Dorval Carter Jr.” (Gift link, courtesy of Chicago Public Square supporters.)
What she should have said. Press Watch critic Dan Froomkin pores over a transcript of Sunday’s Meet the Press interview with Donald Trump—inserting what he’d’ve done as Trump shat out lie after lie.
■ Popular Information identifies “at least 10 false claims by Trump that were ignored by NBC News.”
■ CNN’s Oliver Darcy: “It’s arguable that, at this juncture, there is really no need to interview Trump.”
■ Politico: Trump’s pledge to seek “peace” on the matter of abortion “triggered” Biden world.
■ USA Today’s Rex Huppke: Anyone still on the fence over which party to support should simply contrast what’s happening in Michigan and Florida.
■ The Daily Beast: Trumpworld sees Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis “as another grave in … Trump’s cemetery of GOP political rivals.”
Candy crucible. A grand opening was scheduled today for Ferrero’s candy research and development center—on the same floor of the Marshall Field & Co. building where once workers prepared Frango chocolates.
■ If you like sweets that push the envelope, consider “cowboy candy”?
‘Steve Dahl is … irritated.’ Columnist Eric Zorn walks back his description of radio legend Dahl’s sobriety …
■ … and surveys “the voluminous response” to his defense of Chicago Teachers Union president Stacy Davis Gates’ decision to send her son to a Catholic high school.
Dress codes in the news. The U.S. Senate has dumped its unwritten dress code—a move The Washington Post declares “the best news ever for Sen. John Fetterman.”
■ The Associated Press reports: “A Black high school student in Texas has served more than two weeks of in-school suspensions for wearing twisted dreadlocks.”
■ Which makes this a good time to revisit Chicago Public Square’s longstanding policy: Dress codes suck.
‘Feels like the SNL wild and crazy guys wrote this.’ That was one of the dozens of responses to a poll about yesterday’s AI-generated pitch for reader support of Chicago Public Square.
■ More than half considered that paragraph either “Better than I’d’ve thought” (38%) or “Meh.” (27%).
■ 40% said the ketchup joke fell flat; 25% said “Don’t do this ever again!”
■ Most significantly, though, not a one chose to, um, support Square.