Happy Groundhog Day. Read on for today’s prognostications.
‘A hateful travesty.’ A Tribune editorial calls a City Council vote in favor of a Gaza cease-fire “shameful.”
■ Gov. Pritzker: “I was disappointed.”
■ Warning that the media seem to be “marching us to war,” Press Watch proprietor Dan Froomkin offers lessons journalists should have learned from Iraq.
‘If only the Democrats had ... what? Taken them more seriously ... then those Republicans would ... I couldn’t quite make sense of it.’ The Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg is befuddled by left-wing Democrats’ plan to protest this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago “to accuse fellow Dems of not being Dem enough.”
■ Chicago Public Schools’ August start may be delayed a week to avoid overlapping with the convention.
■ WBEZ’s Sarah Karp reports on a new push to beef up school violence prevention programs with more workers—even those with criminal backgrounds.
‘Wait, Donald Trump’s campaign spent how much on his legal costs?’ Columnist Lauren Martinchek is (not really all that) incredulous.
■ The AP reports—with a headline corrected after your Chicago Public Square columnist complained—“Nikki Haley has called out prejudice but rejected talk of systemic racism throughout her career.”
‘Watch your f___ing ass.’ A Chicago City Council member stands accused of screaming at and threatening a building owner who—largely at his own expense—has been housing 448 migrants.
■ Reader Reg Davis writes about a suggestion in Thursday’s Square that the council’s more divided than ever: “Any Chicagoan who lived through Mayor Harold Washington’s term and Council Wars knows that this split, wide though it may be, can’t compare to the vitriol and stonewalling then. And there doesn’t seem to be the racial animosity that fired up that years-long battle.”
‘Dangerous, racist, corrupt or negligent cops cost the city big money.’ So Better Government Association CEO David Greising says major disciplinary hearings for police officers must be public.
■ A coalition of business leaders and charitable foundations aims to raise $400 million over five years to cut by half the number of shootings and homicides in Chicago.
‘The store no one really wants.’ Architecture critic Lynn Becker mourns the long decline of Macy’s State Street showcase: “Macy’s primary—only?—value is as the kind of real estate play that greased the extinction of … Sears and Kmart.”
■ Disclosure: Your Square columnist got a great deal on a winter coat this week via Macy’s—online.
Defective email subject line of the day. This one, from the Cook County Board president’s office—“Cook County Residents Eligible for Spay/Neuter Discounts”—would be better with the words “dogs and cats.”
■ Here’s how to get yours—er, your pet’s.
A rout(e). Most-tapped item by far in yesterday’s Square: Word that Illinois has a new official paper highway map—and it’s available free.
‘The Middle East, Central American politics, dogs, drugs and Danish royalty.’ That’s just some of the ground covered in the latest news quiz concocted by past Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Fritz Holznagel.
Skilling’s successor. When beloved WGN-TV weather wizard Tom Skilling retires at the end of the month, Demetrius Ivory becomes the station’s chief meteorologist.
■ Skilling was on hand this morning as groundhog Woodstock Willie signaled an early spring.
■ Over by dere in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil did the same.
‘They’re a bunch of punks from New York and we’re not scared.’ Trib investigative reporter Ray Long was among dozens of staffers joining a historic one-day editorial strike at the paper—protesting the company’s vulture fund ownership.
■ Media business analyst Rick Edmunds on print journalism’s burden: “Distribution costs are a killer—whether throwing papers in your driveway or shipping magazines through the mail.”
■ Ex-workers at spectacular media failure The Messenger are suing ownership over their mass layoffs without notice.
■ Columnist Marisa Kabas: “Every day in media is like the end of an episode of America’s Next Top Model where the image of the person who was voted off disappears from the group photo—except the group photo originally had like, a million people in it and now it’s down to approximately five … but … we’re on the cusp of … something, and I and other writers get to play an active role in figuring out what the something is.”
At a challenging time for journalism … Thanks to readers whose support keeps Square coming—people such as Jean Davis, Colette Verdun, Laurie R. Glenn/Thinkinc., Arnie Weissmann, Bob Izral (again!) Nancy and Barney Straus, Carmie Callobre, Doug Strubel, Stephanie Kiesling, Mena Boulanger, Sonya Booth, Tim Brandhorst, Ellen Mrazek, Alisa dePedro, Denise Pondel, Michael Soriano, Robert Feder, Jennifer Fardy, Doug Freedman, Rob Renfro, Collin Canright, Tom Barnes, Sharon Halperin, Sue Omanson, Lisa Colpoys and Catherine Schneider, Jill Chukerman, Rob Breymaier, Avis Rudner, Jim Grimes, Scott Watson, Harla Hutchinson, Mark Wukas, Dale Epton and Reed Pence.
■ Join their ranks for any amount—as little as $1—over the weekend, then see your name here Monday.
‘A hateful travesty.’ A Tribune editorial calls a City Council vote in favor of a Gaza cease-fire “shameful.”
■ Gov. Pritzker: “I was disappointed.”
■ Warning that the media seem to be “marching us to war,” Press Watch proprietor Dan Froomkin offers lessons journalists should have learned from Iraq.
‘If only the Democrats had ... what? Taken them more seriously ... then those Republicans would ... I couldn’t quite make sense of it.’ The Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg is befuddled by left-wing Democrats’ plan to protest this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago “to accuse fellow Dems of not being Dem enough.”
■ Chicago Public Schools’ August start may be delayed a week to avoid overlapping with the convention.
■ WBEZ’s Sarah Karp reports on a new push to beef up school violence prevention programs with more workers—even those with criminal backgrounds.
‘Wait, Donald Trump’s campaign spent how much on his legal costs?’ Columnist Lauren Martinchek is (not really all that) incredulous.
■ The AP reports—with a headline corrected after your Chicago Public Square columnist complained—“Nikki Haley has called out prejudice but rejected talk of systemic racism throughout her career.”
‘Watch your f___ing ass.’ A Chicago City Council member stands accused of screaming at and threatening a building owner who—largely at his own expense—has been housing 448 migrants.
■ Reader Reg Davis writes about a suggestion in Thursday’s Square that the council’s more divided than ever: “Any Chicagoan who lived through Mayor Harold Washington’s term and Council Wars knows that this split, wide though it may be, can’t compare to the vitriol and stonewalling then. And there doesn’t seem to be the racial animosity that fired up that years-long battle.”
‘Dangerous, racist, corrupt or negligent cops cost the city big money.’ So Better Government Association CEO David Greising says major disciplinary hearings for police officers must be public.
■ A coalition of business leaders and charitable foundations aims to raise $400 million over five years to cut by half the number of shootings and homicides in Chicago.
‘The store no one really wants.’ Architecture critic Lynn Becker mourns the long decline of Macy’s State Street showcase: “Macy’s primary—only?—value is as the kind of real estate play that greased the extinction of … Sears and Kmart.”
■ Disclosure: Your Square columnist got a great deal on a winter coat this week via Macy’s—online.
Defective email subject line of the day. This one, from the Cook County Board president’s office—“Cook County Residents Eligible for Spay/Neuter Discounts”—would be better with the words “dogs and cats.”
■ Here’s how to get yours—er, your pet’s.
A rout(e). Most-tapped item by far in yesterday’s Square: Word that Illinois has a new official paper highway map—and it’s available free.
‘The Middle East, Central American politics, dogs, drugs and Danish royalty.’ That’s just some of the ground covered in the latest news quiz concocted by past Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Fritz Holznagel.
Skilling’s successor. When beloved WGN-TV weather wizard Tom Skilling retires at the end of the month, Demetrius Ivory becomes the station’s chief meteorologist.
■ Skilling was on hand this morning as groundhog Woodstock Willie signaled an early spring.
■ Over by dere in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil did the same.
‘They’re a bunch of punks from New York and we’re not scared.’ Trib investigative reporter Ray Long was among dozens of staffers joining a historic one-day editorial strike at the paper—protesting the company’s vulture fund ownership.
■ Media business analyst Rick Edmunds on print journalism’s burden: “Distribution costs are a killer—whether throwing papers in your driveway or shipping magazines through the mail.”
■ Ex-workers at spectacular media failure The Messenger are suing ownership over their mass layoffs without notice.
■ Columnist Marisa Kabas: “Every day in media is like the end of an episode of America’s Next Top Model where the image of the person who was voted off disappears from the group photo—except the group photo originally had like, a million people in it and now it’s down to approximately five … but … we’re on the cusp of … something, and I and other writers get to play an active role in figuring out what the something is.”
At a challenging time for journalism … Thanks to readers whose support keeps Square coming—people such as Jean Davis, Colette Verdun, Laurie R. Glenn/Thinkinc., Arnie Weissmann, Bob Izral (again!) Nancy and Barney Straus, Carmie Callobre, Doug Strubel, Stephanie Kiesling, Mena Boulanger, Sonya Booth, Tim Brandhorst, Ellen Mrazek, Alisa dePedro, Denise Pondel, Michael Soriano, Robert Feder, Jennifer Fardy, Doug Freedman, Rob Renfro, Collin Canright, Tom Barnes, Sharon Halperin, Sue Omanson, Lisa Colpoys and Catherine Schneider, Jill Chukerman, Rob Breymaier, Avis Rudner, Jim Grimes, Scott Watson, Harla Hutchinson, Mark Wukas, Dale Epton and Reed Pence.
■ Join their ranks for any amount—as little as $1—over the weekend, then see your name here Monday.
‘A hateful travesty.’ A Tribune editorial calls a City Council vote in favor of a Gaza cease-fire “shameful.”
■ Gov. Pritzker: “I was disappointed.”
■ Warning that the media seem to be “marching us to war,” Press Watch proprietor Dan Froomkin offers lessons journalists should have learned from Iraq.
‘If only the Democrats had ... what? Taken them more seriously ... then those Republicans would ... I couldn’t quite make sense of it.’ The Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg is befuddled by left-wing Democrats’ plan to protest this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago “to accuse fellow Dems of not being Dem enough.”
■ Chicago Public Schools’ August start may be delayed a week to avoid overlapping with the convention.
■ WBEZ’s Sarah Karp reports on a new push to beef up school violence prevention programs with more workers—even those with criminal backgrounds.
‘Wait, Donald Trump’s campaign spent how much on his legal costs?’ Columnist Lauren Martinchek is (not really all that) incredulous.
■ The AP reports—with a headline corrected after your Chicago Public Square columnist complained—“Nikki Haley has called out prejudice but rejected talk of systemic racism throughout her career.”
‘Watch your f___ing ass.’ A Chicago City Council member stands accused of screaming at and threatening a building owner who—largely at his own expense—has been housing 448 migrants.
■ Reader Reg Davis writes about a suggestion in Thursday’s Square that the council’s more divided than ever: “Any Chicagoan who lived through Mayor Harold Washington’s term and Council Wars knows that this split, wide though it may be, can’t compare to the vitriol and stonewalling then. And there doesn’t seem to be the racial animosity that fired up that years-long battle.”
‘Dangerous, racist, corrupt or negligent cops cost the city big money.’ So Better Government Association CEO David Greising says major disciplinary hearings for police officers must be public.
■ A coalition of business leaders and charitable foundations aims to raise $400 million over five years to cut by half the number of shootings and homicides in Chicago.
‘The store no one really wants.’ Architecture critic Lynn Becker mourns the long decline of Macy’s State Street showcase: “Macy’s primary—only?—value is as the kind of real estate play that greased the extinction of … Sears and Kmart.”
■ Disclosure: Your Square columnist got a great deal on a winter coat this week via Macy’s—online.
Defective email subject line of the day. This one, from the Cook County Board president’s office—“Cook County Residents Eligible for Spay/Neuter Discounts”—would be better with the words “dogs and cats.”
■ Here’s how to get yours—er, your pet’s.
A rout(e). Most-tapped item by far in yesterday’s Square: Word that Illinois has a new official paper highway map—and it’s available free.
‘The Middle East, Central American politics, dogs, drugs and Danish royalty.’ That’s just some of the ground covered in the latest news quiz concocted by past Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Fritz Holznagel.
Skilling’s successor. When beloved WGN-TV weather wizard Tom Skilling retires at the end of the month, Demetrius Ivory becomes the station’s chief meteorologist.
■ Skilling was on hand this morning as groundhog Woodstock Willie signaled an early spring.
■ Over by dere in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil did the same.
‘They’re a bunch of punks from New York and we’re not scared.’ Trib investigative reporter Ray Long was among dozens of staffers joining a historic one-day editorial strike at the paper—protesting the company’s vulture fund ownership.
■ Media business analyst Rick Edmunds on print journalism’s burden: “Distribution costs are a killer—whether throwing papers in your driveway or shipping magazines through the mail.”
■ Ex-workers at spectacular media failure The Messenger are suing ownership over their mass layoffs without notice.
■ Columnist Marisa Kabas: “Every day in media is like the end of an episode of America’s Next Top Model where the image of the person who was voted off disappears from the group photo—except the group photo originally had like, a million people in it and now it’s down to approximately five … but … we’re on the cusp of … something, and I and other writers get to play an active role in figuring out what the something is.”
At a challenging time for journalism … Thanks to readers whose support keeps Square coming—people such as Jean Davis, Colette Verdun, Laurie R. Glenn/Thinkinc., Arnie Weissmann, Bob Izral (again!) Nancy and Barney Straus, Carmie Callobre, Doug Strubel, Stephanie Kiesling, Mena Boulanger, Sonya Booth, Tim Brandhorst, Ellen Mrazek, Alisa dePedro, Denise Pondel, Michael Soriano, Robert Feder, Jennifer Fardy, Doug Freedman, Rob Renfro, Collin Canright, Tom Barnes, Sharon Halperin, Sue Omanson, Lisa Colpoys and Catherine Schneider, Jill Chukerman, Rob Breymaier, Avis Rudner, Jim Grimes, Scott Watson, Harla Hutchinson, Mark Wukas, Dale Epton and Reed Pence.
■ Join their ranks for any amount—as little as $1—over the weekend, then see your name here Monday.
‘A hateful travesty.’ A Tribune editorial calls a City Council vote in favor of a Gaza cease-fire “shameful.”
■ Gov. Pritzker: “I was disappointed.”
■ Warning that the media seem to be “marching us to war,” Press Watch proprietor Dan Froomkin offers lessons journalists should have learned from Iraq.
‘If only the Democrats had ... what? Taken them more seriously ... then those Republicans would ... I couldn’t quite make sense of it.’ The Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg is befuddled by left-wing Democrats’ plan to protest this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago “to accuse fellow Dems of not being Dem enough.”
■ Chicago Public Schools’ August start may be delayed a week to avoid overlapping with the convention.
■ WBEZ’s Sarah Karp reports on a new push to beef up school violence prevention programs with more workers—even those with criminal backgrounds.
‘Wait, Donald Trump’s campaign spent how much on his legal costs?’ Columnist Lauren Martinchek is (not really all that) incredulous.
■ The AP reports—with a headline corrected after your Chicago Public Square columnist complained—“Nikki Haley has called out prejudice but rejected talk of systemic racism throughout her career.”
‘Watch your f___ing ass.’ A Chicago City Council member stands accused of screaming at and threatening a building owner who—largely at his own expense—has been housing 448 migrants.
■ Reader Reg Davis writes about a suggestion in Thursday’s Square that the council’s more divided than ever: “Any Chicagoan who lived through Mayor Harold Washington’s term and Council Wars knows that this split, wide though it may be, can’t compare to the vitriol and stonewalling then. And there doesn’t seem to be the racial animosity that fired up that years-long battle.”
‘Dangerous, racist, corrupt or negligent cops cost the city big money.’ So Better Government Association CEO David Greising says major disciplinary hearings for police officers must be public.
■ A coalition of business leaders and charitable foundations aims to raise $400 million over five years to cut by half the number of shootings and homicides in Chicago.
‘The store no one really wants.’ Architecture critic Lynn Becker mourns the long decline of Macy’s State Street showcase: “Macy’s primary—only?—value is as the kind of real estate play that greased the extinction of … Sears and Kmart.”
■ Disclosure: Your Square columnist got a great deal on a winter coat this week via Macy’s—online.
Defective email subject line of the day. This one, from the Cook County Board president’s office—“Cook County Residents Eligible for Spay/Neuter Discounts”—would be better with the words “dogs and cats.”
■ Here’s how to get yours—er, your pet’s.
A rout(e). Most-tapped item by far in yesterday’s Square: Word that Illinois has a new official paper highway map—and it’s available free.
‘The Middle East, Central American politics, dogs, drugs and Danish royalty.’ That’s just some of the ground covered in the latest news quiz concocted by past Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Fritz Holznagel.
Skilling’s successor. When beloved WGN-TV weather wizard Tom Skilling retires at the end of the month, Demetrius Ivory becomes the station’s chief meteorologist.
■ Skilling was on hand this morning as groundhog Woodstock Willie signaled an early spring.
■ Over by dere in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil did the same.
‘They’re a bunch of punks from New York and we’re not scared.’ Trib investigative reporter Ray Long was among dozens of staffers joining a historic one-day editorial strike at the paper—protesting the company’s vulture fund ownership.
■ Media business analyst Rick Edmunds on print journalism’s burden: “Distribution costs are a killer—whether throwing papers in your driveway or shipping magazines through the mail.”
■ Ex-workers at spectacular media failure The Messenger are suing ownership over their mass layoffs without notice.
■ Columnist Marisa Kabas: “Every day in media is like the end of an episode of America’s Next Top Model where the image of the person who was voted off disappears from the group photo—except the group photo originally had like, a million people in it and now it’s down to approximately five … but … we’re on the cusp of … something, and I and other writers get to play an active role in figuring out what the something is.”
At a challenging time for journalism … Thanks to readers whose support keeps Square coming—people such as Jean Davis, Colette Verdun, Laurie R. Glenn/Thinkinc., Arnie Weissmann, Bob Izral (again!) Nancy and Barney Straus, Carmie Callobre, Doug Strubel, Stephanie Kiesling, Mena Boulanger, Sonya Booth, Tim Brandhorst, Ellen Mrazek, Alisa dePedro, Denise Pondel, Michael Soriano, Robert Feder, Jennifer Fardy, Doug Freedman, Rob Renfro, Collin Canright, Tom Barnes, Sharon Halperin, Sue Omanson, Lisa Colpoys and Catherine Schneider, Jill Chukerman, Rob Breymaier, Avis Rudner, Jim Grimes, Scott Watson, Harla Hutchinson, Mark Wukas, Dale Epton and Reed Pence.
■ Join their ranks for any amount—as little as $1—over the weekend, then see your name here Monday.
‘A hateful travesty.’ A Tribune editorial calls a City Council vote in favor of a Gaza cease-fire “shameful.”
■ Gov. Pritzker: “I was disappointed.”
■ Warning that the media seem to be “marching us to war,” Press Watch proprietor Dan Froomkin offers lessons journalists should have learned from Iraq.
‘If only the Democrats had ... what? Taken them more seriously ... then those Republicans would ... I couldn’t quite make sense of it.’ The Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg is befuddled by left-wing Democrats’ plan to protest this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago “to accuse fellow Dems of not being Dem enough.”
■ Chicago Public Schools’ August start may be delayed a week to avoid overlapping with the convention.
■ WBEZ’s Sarah Karp reports on a new push to beef up school violence prevention programs with more workers—even those with criminal backgrounds.
‘Wait, Donald Trump’s campaign spent how much on his legal costs?’ Columnist Lauren Martinchek is (not really all that) incredulous.
■ The AP reports—with a headline corrected after your Chicago Public Square columnist complained—“Nikki Haley has called out prejudice but rejected talk of systemic racism throughout her career.”
‘Watch your f___ing ass.’ A Chicago City Council member stands accused of screaming at and threatening a building owner who—largely at his own expense—has been housing 448 migrants.
■ Reader Reg Davis writes about a suggestion in Thursday’s Square that the council’s more divided than ever: “Any Chicagoan who lived through Mayor Harold Washington’s term and Council Wars knows that this split, wide though it may be, can’t compare to the vitriol and stonewalling then. And there doesn’t seem to be the racial animosity that fired up that years-long battle.”
‘Dangerous, racist, corrupt or negligent cops cost the city big money.’ So Better Government Association CEO David Greising says major disciplinary hearings for police officers must be public.
■ A coalition of business leaders and charitable foundations aims to raise $400 million over five years to cut by half the number of shootings and homicides in Chicago.
‘The store no one really wants.’ Architecture critic Lynn Becker mourns the long decline of Macy’s State Street showcase: “Macy’s primary—only?—value is as the kind of real estate play that greased the extinction of … Sears and Kmart.”
■ Disclosure: Your Square columnist got a great deal on a winter coat this week via Macy’s—online.
Defective email subject line of the day. This one, from the Cook County Board president’s office—“Cook County Residents Eligible for Spay/Neuter Discounts”—would be better with the words “dogs and cats.”
■ Here’s how to get yours—er, your pet’s.
A rout(e). Most-tapped item by far in yesterday’s Square: Word that Illinois has a new official paper highway map—and it’s available free.
‘The Middle East, Central American politics, dogs, drugs and Danish royalty.’ That’s just some of the ground covered in the latest news quiz concocted by past Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Fritz Holznagel.
Skilling’s successor. When beloved WGN-TV weather wizard Tom Skilling retires at the end of the month, Demetrius Ivory becomes the station’s chief meteorologist.
■ Skilling was on hand this morning as groundhog Woodstock Willie signaled an early spring.
■ Over by dere in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil did the same.
‘They’re a bunch of punks from New York and we’re not scared.’ Trib investigative reporter Ray Long was among dozens of staffers joining a historic one-day editorial strike at the paper—protesting the company’s vulture fund ownership.
■ Media business analyst Rick Edmunds on print journalism’s burden: “Distribution costs are a killer—whether throwing papers in your driveway or shipping magazines through the mail.”
■ Ex-workers at spectacular media failure The Messenger are suing ownership over their mass layoffs without notice.
■ Columnist Marisa Kabas: “Every day in media is like the end of an episode of America’s Next Top Model where the image of the person who was voted off disappears from the group photo—except the group photo originally had like, a million people in it and now it’s down to approximately five … but … we’re on the cusp of … something, and I and other writers get to play an active role in figuring out what the something is.”
At a challenging time for journalism … Thanks to readers whose support keeps Square coming—people such as Jean Davis, Colette Verdun, Laurie R. Glenn/Thinkinc., Arnie Weissmann, Bob Izral (again!) Nancy and Barney Straus, Carmie Callobre, Doug Strubel, Stephanie Kiesling, Mena Boulanger, Sonya Booth, Tim Brandhorst, Ellen Mrazek, Alisa dePedro, Denise Pondel, Michael Soriano, Robert Feder, Jennifer Fardy, Doug Freedman, Rob Renfro, Collin Canright, Tom Barnes, Sharon Halperin, Sue Omanson, Lisa Colpoys and Catherine Schneider, Jill Chukerman, Rob Breymaier, Avis Rudner, Jim Grimes, Scott Watson, Harla Hutchinson, Mark Wukas, Dale Epton and Reed Pence.
■ Join their ranks for any amount—as little as $1—over the weekend, then see your name here Monday.
‘A hateful travesty.’ A Tribune editorial calls a City Council vote in favor of a Gaza cease-fire “shameful.”
■ Gov. Pritzker: “I was disappointed.”
■ Warning that the media seem to be “marching us to war,” Press Watch proprietor Dan Froomkin offers lessons journalists should have learned from Iraq.
‘If only the Democrats had ... what? Taken them more seriously ... then those Republicans would ... I couldn’t quite make sense of it.’ The Sun-Times’ Neil Steinberg is befuddled by left-wing Democrats’ plan to protest this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago “to accuse fellow Dems of not being Dem enough.”
■ Chicago Public Schools’ August start may be delayed a week to avoid overlapping with the convention.
■ WBEZ’s Sarah Karp reports on a new push to beef up school violence prevention programs with more workers—even those with criminal backgrounds.
‘Wait, Donald Trump’s campaign spent how much on his legal costs?’ Columnist Lauren Martinchek is (not really all that) incredulous.
■ The AP reports—with a headline corrected after your Chicago Public Square columnist complained—“Nikki Haley has called out prejudice but rejected talk of systemic racism throughout her career.”
‘Watch your f___ing ass.’ A Chicago City Council member stands accused of screaming at and threatening a building owner who—largely at his own expense—has been housing 448 migrants.
■ Reader Reg Davis writes about a suggestion in Thursday’s Square that the council’s more divided than ever: “Any Chicagoan who lived through Mayor Harold Washington’s term and Council Wars knows that this split, wide though it may be, can’t compare to the vitriol and stonewalling then. And there doesn’t seem to be the racial animosity that fired up that years-long battle.”
‘Dangerous, racist, corrupt or negligent cops cost the city big money.’ So Better Government Association CEO David Greising says major disciplinary hearings for police officers must be public.
■ A coalition of business leaders and charitable foundations aims to raise $400 million over five years to cut by half the number of shootings and homicides in Chicago.
‘The store no one really wants.’ Architecture critic Lynn Becker mourns the long decline of Macy’s State Street showcase: “Macy’s primary—only?—value is as the kind of real estate play that greased the extinction of … Sears and Kmart.”
■ Disclosure: Your Square columnist got a great deal on a winter coat this week via Macy’s—online.
Defective email subject line of the day. This one, from the Cook County Board president’s office—“Cook County Residents Eligible for Spay/Neuter Discounts”—would be better with the words “dogs and cats.”
■ Here’s how to get yours—er, your pet’s.
A rout(e). Most-tapped item by far in yesterday’s Square: Word that Illinois has a new official paper highway map—and it’s available free.
‘The Middle East, Central American politics, dogs, drugs and Danish royalty.’ That’s just some of the ground covered in the latest news quiz concocted by past Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Fritz Holznagel.
Skilling’s successor. When beloved WGN-TV weather wizard Tom Skilling retires at the end of the month, Demetrius Ivory becomes the station’s chief meteorologist.
■ Skilling was on hand this morning as groundhog Woodstock Willie signaled an early spring.
■ Over by dere in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil did the same.
‘They’re a bunch of punks from New York and we’re not scared.’ Trib investigative reporter Ray Long was among dozens of staffers joining a historic one-day editorial strike at the paper—protesting the company’s vulture fund ownership.
■ Media business analyst Rick Edmunds on print journalism’s burden: “Distribution costs are a killer—whether throwing papers in your driveway or shipping magazines through the mail.”
■ Ex-workers at spectacular media failure The Messenger are suing ownership over their mass layoffs without notice.
■ Columnist Marisa Kabas: “Every day in media is like the end of an episode of America’s Next Top Model where the image of the person who was voted off disappears from the group photo—except the group photo originally had like, a million people in it and now it’s down to approximately five … but … we’re on the cusp of … something, and I and other writers get to play an active role in figuring out what the something is.”
At a challenging time for journalism … Thanks to readers whose support keeps Square coming—people such as Jean Davis, Colette Verdun, Laurie R. Glenn/Thinkinc., Arnie Weissmann, Bob Izral (again!) Nancy and Barney Straus, Carmie Callobre, Doug Strubel, Stephanie Kiesling, Mena Boulanger, Sonya Booth, Tim Brandhorst, Ellen Mrazek, Alisa dePedro, Denise Pondel, Michael Soriano, Robert Feder, Jennifer Fardy, Doug Freedman, Rob Renfro, Collin Canright, Tom Barnes, Sharon Halperin, Sue Omanson, Lisa Colpoys and Catherine Schneider, Jill Chukerman, Rob Breymaier, Avis Rudner, Jim Grimes, Scott Watson, Harla Hutchinson, Mark Wukas, Dale Epton and Reed Pence.
■ Join their ranks for any amount—as little as $1—over the weekend, then see your name here Monday.