‘90 seconds to midnight.’ The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has updated its symbolic Doomsday Clock to reflect the continuing threats Earth faces—including the Russia-Ukraine war, deterioration of nuclear arms reduction agreements, the climate crisis, and unbridled genetic engineering and artificial intelligence tech.
‘The worst crime scene I’ve ever been associated with.’ That’s Joliet’s police chief on the shooting deaths of several people …
■ … apparently at the hands of a man who shot and killed himself in a confrontation with U.S. marshals outside San Antonio.
■ The husband and father to four women shot and killed in Tinley Park has been charged with their murders.
‘There is … the question of where all the emergency temporary shovelers and plow drivers would come from.’ Columnist Eric Zorn has doubts about a push to make the city responsible for shoveling Chicago’s sidewalks.
■ Speaking of a workforce-in-waiting: Mayor Johnson’s push to limit shelter stays for migrant families threatens what a veteran of New York’s similar restrictions calls “utter chaos.”
■ Gov. Pritzker says the Chicago plan leaves him “deeply concerned.”
■ Pritkzer’s joined eight other Democratic governors seeking more federal help in caring for thousands of migrants.
■ State Rep. and former mayoral candidate Kam Buckner: If Chicago doesn’t get that aid, it should pass on hosting the Democratic National Convention this summer.
‘Filthy’ dollar stores. The Chicago City Council’s weighing a crackdown on the proliferation of low-cost retailers.
■ John Oliver dropped a dime on reprehensible practices at those stores back in November.
Biden baloney. A robocall faking President Biden’s voice urged Democrats to stay home today in New Hampshire.
■ Hear it here.
■ The Onion jokes: “Fake Joe Biden Robocall Tells New Hampshire Voters He Took A Paternity Test And He’s Their Dad.”
■ New Hampshire’s primary may be Nikki Haley’s last shot at Donald Trump.
■ She swept all six registered voters in Dixville Notch.
■ Jimmy Kimmel: Haley’s “living every woman’s nightmare: Being left alone with Donald Trump.”
■ USA Today’s Rex Huppke checks the presidential scoreboard: “Wokeness 1, DeSantis 0.”
‘A political problem for Florida Republicans.’ Popular Information reports that the tide is turning against Florida’s book bans …
■ … notably since the repression caught up books by right-winger Bill O’Reilly (Jan. 13 link).
■ The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin hails a bipartisan congressional response to antisemitism on college campuses. (Gift link courtesy of Chicago Public Square supporters.)
‘An oil and gas organization in Illinois is promoting misinformation in schools.’ The Lever turns a spotlight on “educational” programs promoted by the Illinois Oil Field Museum in Oblong, Illinois.
■ If Oblong rings a bell, this may be why (2016 link).
iPhone theft defense. An operating system upgrade now out offers “stolen device protection.”
■ If your phone’s in a new place, it requires you to confirm your identity before—among other things—using saved passwords.
■ If you’ve ever used the Trello task-management software, your login information may have been compromised.
■ Also Loan Depot.
Oppenheimer vs. Barbie. Those films lead this year’s Oscar nominees.
■ Here’s the full list …
■ … including The Associated Press’ first in its 178-year history.
Radio shame. With accusations that one alumnus of the station tells Chicago Public Square are “100% authentic,” a former WKQX radio host is suing parent Cumulus Media, alleging workplace discrimination and harassment—and retaliation when he complained.
■ Columnist Cathleen Falsani reflects on WXRT DJ Lin Brehmer’s death a year ago yesterday.
‘Music criticism is dead.’ Cultural critic Bob Lefsetz: “Pitchfork started when alternative rock was … an alternative. Now everything is an alternative.”
■ CNN reports The Los Angeles Times is in “chaos” as layoffs loom and senior editors bail.
■ Columnist Marisa Kabas explains that the theft of almost all the editions of a small-town Colorado newspaper that reported an alleged rape at the police chief’s house was committed by a guy out to protect the victim, not the chief.
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