Good afternoon! A brand new examine confirmed my suspicion that Chicago formally has a number of the worst site visitors on the planet. Right here’s what else it’s essential know right this moment.
Someday after eleventh-hour opposition from Mayor Brandon Johnson helped kill statewide restrictions on some hemp merchandise, the Metropolis Council’s License Committee right this moment banned the sale of delta-8 and different unregulated merchandise, Fran Spielman and Mitchell Armentrout write for the Chicago Solar-Instances.
The committee authorised an ordinance that may prohibit the sale of “cannabinoid hemp merchandise” in a “Halfway Residential Space.”
Former Finance Committee Chair Scott Waguespack, thirty second Ward, stated the merchandise being marketed to minors generally and highschool youngsters particularly appear to be Halloween sweet. Ald. Marty Quinn, thirteenth Ward, chief sponsor of the Chicago ordinance, stated unregulated smoke outlets are “popping up in every single place with none warning or collaboration” with a Chicago Garden police district.
Johnson stated he appears to be like ahead to serving to to forge a compromise between the warring hemp and hashish industries that may “keep away from unintended penalties.” That settlement should steadiness the necessity for “security and financial growth” whereas additionally “preserving native management,” the mayor stated. [Chicago Sun-Times]
2. Illinois’ famously reclusive Michael Madigan took the stand in his personal protection
The transfer is a shocking growth, given Madigan’s personal nature and the mountain of secret FBI recordings that he’ll doubtless now have to clarify, my colleagues Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles write for the Chicago Solar-Instances.
The choice to testify rested with Madigan, who would possibly see it as his finest transfer towards an aggressive FBI investigation that has led to a number of separate corruption convictions within the metropolis.
Protection legal professional Dan Collins requested Madigan on the stand if individuals requested him for assist.
“Sure,” Madigan replied, including that he was requested for assist by “all sorts of individuals.”
Collins requested if Madigan ever traded his public workplace for personal acquire, ever demanded a factor of worth in change for an official act, or ever accepted a factor of worth in change for an official act? Madigan answered no. [Chicago Sun-Times]
In the meantime, right here’s what the key wiretaps performed at his trial present about Madigan’s personal life. [WBEZ]
A civil rights lawyer accused new Cook dinner County State’s Legal professional Eileen O’Neill Burke of directing prosecutors to threaten the lawyer’s consumer with perjury to scare him and different potential witnesses from recanting testimony in police misconduct circumstances, my colleague Matthew Hendrickson writes for the Chicago Solar-Instances.
Civil rights lawyer Jennifer Bonjean advised Choose Carol Howard she believed O’Neill Burke was attempting “to sign there’s a new sheriff on the town” to protection attorneys representing purchasers who declare they have been wrongly convicted due to police misconduct.
Bonjean made the feedback moments earlier than her consumer, Wilfredo Torres, took the stand to testify within the case of Tyrece Williams, who was convicted in 1991 of fatally taking pictures 15-year-old Peter Cruz in Logan Sq.. Williams is hoping the choose will grant him a brand new trial, partly on the load of Torres’ declare that he was compelled by police to falsely establish Williams because the killer.
The brand new state’s legal professional, a former appellate court docket justice, walked a high quality line as a candidate. She embraced most of the reforms of her predecessor, fellow Democrat Kim Foxx, but additionally claimed she ought to take a more durable stance on prosecutions. Foxx made opinions of wrongful conviction claims a centerpiece of her eight years as state’s legal professional, main her workplace to drop expenses in tons of of circumstances the place there have been allegations of police misconduct. [Chicago Sun-Times]
4. Right here’s when you’ll be able to go to Chicago museums at no cost this winter
A number of of town’s greatest museums are providing Illinois residents free admission on choose days.
Illinoisans can see the Artwork Institute’s huge assortment with out paying a penny on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays as a part of Free Winter Weekdays from Jan. 6 by March 14.
The Adler Planetarium and Discipline Museum are free on Wednesdays, and the Shedd Aquarium has no cost on explicit dates.
Extra particulars, together with for different Chicago cultural establishments, are within the hyperlink. [NBC Chicago]
Highlights of the 2025 season will embrace 10 Illinois premieres, two Chicago premieres and a world premiere work from Chicago composer Stacy Garrop for the 2025 String Fellow Quartet, in addition to the Midwest premiere of “Mycelialore” by Wisconsin-born composer Chelsea Komschlies.
The competition’s 10-week sequence that includes the Grant Park Orchestra and Refrain — the latter below the management of refrain director Christopher Bell — will run June 11 to Aug. 16 in Millennium Park. This summer time will mark the competition’s first one helmed by new creative director and principal conductor Giancarlo Guerrero.
Concert events are free and most happen Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings on the Pritzker Pavilion. They are going to be held June 26 and 30 on the South Shore Cultural Heart, and June 27-28 and Aug. 1-2 on the Harris Theater.
The season’s full schedule will be discovered at grantparkmusicfestival.com. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Right here’s what else is going on
- The Biden administration banned unpaid medical payments from showing on credit score experiences. [AP]
- Two our bodies have been present in a JetBlue aircraft’s touchdown gear compartment at a Florida airport. [AP]
- Meta, which owns Fb and Instagram, introduced the corporate will cease reality checking. [NPR]
- Peter Yarrow of folk-music trio Peter, Paul and Mary died at 86. [AP]
Oh, and yet one more factor …
I’m torn whether or not these Pop-Tart mascots on the school bowl are cute or creepy (I’m leaning towards the latter).
Chicago Mascot Co. created the costumes and can also be behind outfits for the Cubs’ and White Sox’ mascots, Stefano Esposito experiences for the Chicago Solar-Instances.
Every is handmade, taking about six months to develop and two weeks to assemble. They usually aren’t low-cost, costing anyplace from $11,000 to $20,000 per mascot.
“It positively is an funding, however in the event you’re a Main League staff, it is a massive a part of your model,” stated Mary Hickey, the founder and proprietor of Chicago Mascot Co. “Individuals pay cash for Benny the Bull to indicate up at their wedding ceremony or their bar mitzvah or the corporate occasion.” [Chicago Sun-Times]
Inform me one thing good …
What are your finest ideas for getting by Chicago winters?
Eva writes:
I like to recommend rechargeable hand heaters which you could pop in your pockets or the information of your mittens. Keep heat!”
Karina writes:
“I’ve been desirous to get a pair of down/insulated joggers for years and at last snagged a pair in December. They’re my new superpower! I can now stroll for miles and miles in 15 diploma climate with out batting an eye fixed. A pleasant scorching glögg while you get again from an extended stroll doesn’t harm both!”
And Keith writes:
“I moved to Minneapolis to attend school in 1979. Having grown up in Chicagoland (Gary), I felt ready for Minnesota’s chilly and snow. In spite of everything, I survived the blizzard of ’67. I shortly found I used to be not. The rationale? Improper clothes. Being trendy grew to become much less necessary than being heat.
As soon as I realized the way to correctly costume for the climate, exterior adventures grew to become extra frequent. Winter has its personal distinctive magnificence, particularly in parks and alongside trails. You can even burn a number of energy venturing within the snow. Embrace it! And bear in mind, there’s no such factor as inappropriate climate, solely inappropriate clothes.”
Be happy to electronic mail me, and your response could also be included within the publication this week.
