Good morning, Chicago.
The head of Chicago’s police union, John Catanzara, has advised officers not to comply with the city’s COVID-19 vaccine reporting requirement and said the union has filed a labor grievance against the city and plans to pursue legal action to fight the mandate. Mayor Lori Lightfoot, asked about his comments at an unrelated news conference Wednesday, said: “He’s threatening litigation. I say, bring it.”
For Chicago Public Schools, employees who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Friday’s deadline will still be able to work Monday, but they will have to undergo weekly testing at their schools, the district’s CEO said Wednesday.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.
COVID-19 tracker | More newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Daily horoscope | Ask Amy | Today’s eNewspaper edition
The Chicago Park District appointed Rosa Escareno, a recently retired commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protections, to be its interim superintendent Wednesday.
Escareno’s appointment came after former Superintendent Michael Kelly resigned Saturday, shortly after Mayor Lori Lightfoot called for his removal.
Five alleged Chicago street gang members have been charged in a racketeering conspiracy accusing them of a pattern of violence that includes the downtown slaying of Chicago rapper FBG Duck last year.
Even during 2020’s elevated violence levels in the city, the slaying of the rapper whose real name was Carlton Weekly stood out, both because of Weekly’s status as an entertainer and the boldness of the fatal attack.
Metra station proposed for Fulton Market near Ashland Avenue
A new Metra station proposed for booming Fulton Market could eventually be built near Ashland Avenue.
City and Metra officials are eyeing a site that would put a platform just east of Ashland, with walkways to the east and west sides of the street and to Ogden Avenue, according to a preliminary concept they detailed at a community meeting Tuesday evening.
Metra fares hold steady for 2022 but budget shortfall looms as ridership stagnates
At 102 years of age, civil rights legend Timuel Black died Wednesday, according to a family friend. Black’s wife said he entered hospice care Oct. 1.
During his time in Chicago, Black went on to become a teacher, writer, lecturer, decorated military veteran, archivist and the city’s unofficial chief historian who chronicled the evolution of Black life and culture. In his writings, lectures and appearances, he was able to describe with great detail what it was like to grow up during moments that became historically significant to the city’s identity.
“Crossroads”, the new novel by Jonathan Franzen, is terrific, but since this is Franzen, because of the haters and his tortured history with Oprah’s Book Club, it gets hard to ignore reputation. Christopher Borrelli talks to the author.
