Afternoon Briefing: City settles lawsuit alleging rampant racism at water department

Good afternoon, Chicago.

A month before what could have been an embarrassing trial, the city has settled a lawsuit alleging Black employees at the Chicago Department of Water Management were subjected to years of racist and sexist slurs, including some by politically connected top-level supervisors.

The parties announced they had reached an agreement during a status hearing Monday before U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly, who vacated the June 5 trial date.

Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

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Anton Ford speaks along with other members of University of Chicago Faculty for Justice for Palestine, a collective of over 130 faculty and academic staff, at a news conference in front of Edward H. Levi Hall on May 6, 2024. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

U. of C. faculty members gather to support pro-Palestinian student protesters

Dozens of faculty members affiliated with the group Faculty for Justice in Palestine gathered on the steps of the University of Chicago’s Edward H. Levi Hall to call on the university to reopen negotiations with student protesters and to refrain from engaging police. Read more here.

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WLS-Channel 7 chief investigative reporter Chuck Goudie has placed his six-bedroom Hinsdale mansion on the market for $3.995 million. (Bob Goldsborough)
WLS-Ch. 7 chief investigative reporter Chuck Goudie has placed his six-bedroom Hinsdale mansion on the market. (Bob Goldsborough)

WLS-Ch. 7 reporter Chuck Goudie lists Hinsdale home for $3.995M

Goudie has been a longtime Hinsdale resident. He and his late wife Teri, who died in 2022, previously owned another Hinsdale house several blocks away. Read more here.

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Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) makes a move after a catch in the second quarter of a game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) makes a move after a catch in the second quarter of a game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 10, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Column: A look at how things could play out for Chicago Bears with the NFL set to unveil the 2024 schedule

Playing in the country’s largest one-team television market, the Bears will be coveted by the league’s network partners for not only prime-time games, but also late afternoon Sunday games. Read more here.

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The new Archaeopteryx fossil from the Solnhofen Limestone deposits in southern Germany which is now on display at the Field Museum on May 6, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
The new Archaeopteryx fossil from the Solnhofen Limestone deposits in southern Germany, which is now on display at the Field Museum, on May 6, 2024. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Field Museum has a new fossil of an avian dinosaur, unveiled at an event Monday

An Archaeopteryx, it has feathers, hollow bones, a long tail and 50 teeth — and is the earliest known avian dinosaur, a link between dinosaurs and modern birds. Read more here.

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Pro-Israel demonstrators gather for the “Bring Them Home Now” rally outside Columbia University in New York City on April 26, 2024. Yuki Iwamura/AP)

Columbia University cancels main commencement after protests that roiled campus for weeks

Noting that the past few weeks have been “incredibly difficult” for the community, the school said in its announcement that it made the decision after discussions with students. Read more here.

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