Good morning, Chicago.
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to endorse his running mate, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, for the U.S. Senate today, a move that could serve as a politically powerful warning to the rest of an emerging field seeking to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin.
Pritzker’s announcement, scheduled for this morning at a church in the Bronzeville neighborhood where Stratton grew up, comes only two days after Durbin made public his decision not to seek a sixth term and just one day after the two-term lieutenant governor formally declared her Senate candidacy.
With Pritzker’s endorsement, Stratton will lock in the backing of the powerful titular head of the state’s Democratic Party as she seeks early frontrunner status and attempts to preempt a large field of rivals from developing.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Rick Pearson.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including CPD’s first draft of a new policy on traffic stops, the Bears’ selection with the No. 10 pick, and what to do this weekend.
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Judge bars Trump from denying federal funds to ‘sanctuary’ cities that limit immigration cooperation
A federal judge in California yesterday barred the Trump administration from denying or conditioning the use of federal funds to “sanctuary” jurisdictions, saying that portions of President Donald Trump’s executive orders were unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge William Orrick issued the injunction sought by San Francisco and more than a dozen other municipalities that limit cooperation with federal immigration efforts.
Mistrial declared in federal bribery trial of state Sen. Emil Jones III after jury deadlocks on all three counts
After deliberating for nearly as many hours as they heard evidence, jurors in the corruption trial of state Sen. Emil Jones III could not reach a unanimous decision, leaving the case to end in a mistrial yesterday after nearly three weeks of testimony and arguments.
The trial’s conclusion without a verdict came after jurors for two days signaled that they were struggling to come to an agreement while weighing three counts against Jones, who was charged with agreeing to take bribes from an executive of a red-light camera company in exchange for Jones’ protection in Springfield against legislation that would hurt the company’s bottom line.
CPD unveils first draft of new policy on traffic stops
The first draft of the Chicago Police Department’s future policy regulating traffic stops was unveiled yesterday.
And though officers would not be barred from conducting “lawful pretextual traffic stops,” CPD’s draft stressed that those stops “must strike a balance between identifying those engaged in criminal conduct and the community’s sense of fairness.”
Implementing any new directive is likely still months away, at the earliest, as the policy’s specifics are not yet fully established and members of the public will have more chances to weigh in.
Chicago school board OKs $139M to fund new teacher contract; launches equity initiatives
The Chicago Board of Education approved and ratified an agreement between the teachers union and Chicago Public Schools, along with a budget amendment allocating $139 million in funding to cover it, at a meeting yesterday.
Unvaccinated adult in downstate Marion was Illinois’ first measles case of the year
Illinois’ first measles case of the year was in an unvaccinated adult in downstate Marion, according to the state health department.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced the first measles case Wednesday — news that comes amid a swell of measles cases across the country. The health department provided the additional details about the location of the unidentified individual and the person’s vaccination status in a health advisory sent to local health departments and health care providers.
Related:
Mercy Medical Center in Aurora can no longer provide same level of trauma care, state says
Over allegations of staffing shortages, the Illinois Department of Public Health has revoked Mercy Medical Center in Aurora’s Level II Trauma Center designation.
Indiana updated budget proposal includes $2 increase to cigarette tax
Republican leaders in the Senate and House and Gov. Mike Braun reached a decision on a final budget, which includes raising the cigarette tax by $2 a pack to help address a $2.4 billion deficit.
Chicago Bears in the NFL draft: Tight end Colston Loveland selected at No. 10
The Chicago Bears entered draft weekend teeming with optimism, confident the capital they had to work with could produce significant results in their ongoing process to build a playoff roster. The festivities began last night with general manager Ryan Poles selecting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick.
More draft coverage:
- Chicago Bears hoping 1st-round selection of TE Colston Loveland ‘creates creativity’ in Ben Johnson’s offense
- Photos: Chicago Bears’ NFL draft party at Soldier Field
- Chicago Bears have 3 picks on Day 2 of the NFL draft. Here are 24 prospects to watch.
3 takeaways from the Chicago White Sox-Minnesota Twins series, including Shane Smith earning his 1st MLB win
The conditions weren’t ideal, but the results were for Chicago White Sox starter Shane Smith.
The right-hander earned his first major-league win, pitching five scoreless innings as the Sox blanked the Twins 3-0 yesterday in a game called after seven innings because of rain.
Art Institute of Chicago told to surrender drawing to heirs of man killed in Nazi concentration camp
A judge in New York ruled on Wednesday that the Art Institute of Chicago must surrender a 1916 drawing by Egon Schiele to investigators who plan to return it to the heirs of a Jewish cabaret entertainer from Vienna who was murdered in a Nazi concentration camp in 1941.
The drawing “Russian War Prisoner” was purchased by the Art Institute in 1966, but investigators for the Manhattan district attorney’s office had asserted that it and other works once owned by entertainer and art collector Fritz Grünbaum had been looted by the Nazis during the Holocaust.
Labor group sues Starbucks, saying it ignores slave-like conditions for workers in Brazil
A labor rights group sued Starbucks yesterday, alleging that it sourced coffee from a major cooperative in Brazil whose member farms were cited for keeping workers in slave-like conditions.
What to do in Chicago: EXPO Chicago, Charli XCX and Theaster Gates live
Also around the area this weekend, Ivan Cornejo at the United Center, the Doc10 Film Festival and “The Goonies in Concert.”
