Good afternoon! It’s Monday, and although temperatures are anticipated to stay heat via tomorrow, ensure that to deliver an umbrella. Right here’s what else you should know in the present day.
1. Chicago Metropolis Council members are negotiating a plan to reply to ‘teen takeovers’
As summer time approaches, so does one other debate on teen curfews. This time, opponents are working towards compromise, my colleague Mariah Woelfel reviews for WBEZ.
The mayor’s workplace doesn’t have a working definition or a means of characterizing a “teen takeover,” however they’re usually massive gatherings of teenagers promoted on social media by a flyer promoting a “pattern.” These occasions have typically turned chaotic or violent.
In a first-of-its-kind assembly final week that introduced collectively Chicagoans with vastly completely different views on the matter, individuals mentioned how they may deal with a Memorial Day gathering on thirty first Avenue Seaside. The assembly was held by the mayor’s workplace with Chicago’s Police, Fireplace and Well being Departments, council members together with Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd Ward, and violence-prevention neighborhood organizations.
Responses ran the gamut, together with reducing off parking tons and shutting down buses to throwing impromptu block events and assigning youth peacekeepers.
“Nobody desires to criminalize younger folks, whereas on the similar time, we need to attempt to keep order,” mentioned Ald. Jason Ervin, twenty eighth Ward, who co-sponsored a stricter curfew. “We finally will strike a steadiness between the 2.” [WBEZ]
The corporate mentioned it nonetheless plans to reopen the plant close to Rockford in 2027, which is predicted to make use of 1,500 union staff, Abby Miller reviews for the Chicago Solar-Occasions.
The reopening of the idle Belvidere plant was introduced in January, alongside plans to construct a brand new Dodge Durango at its Detroit Meeting Advanced. Along with Dodge, Stellantis owns manufacturers corresponding to Chrysler, Jeep and Ram.
However the financial panorama has drastically modified in latest months, with Stellantis quickly halting operations at meeting crops in Canada and Mexico. It additionally quickly laid off 900 staff at 5 U.S. crops.
The manufacturing pauses got here after Trump in early April introduced 25% tariffs on auto imports and a further 25% on sure automobile elements, efficient Could 3. The Trump administration could find yourself exempting automobile elements from the tariffs.
The Belvidere plant, the place the Jeep Cherokee was produced, shuttered in February 2023 and laid off 1,350 staff. However the firm mentioned it will reopen the plant as a part of Stellantis’ contract negotiations with the United Auto Staff. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Nationally, this system serves 750,000 children, about 75% of them in what Head Begin deems as high quality preschool facilities. The remaining 25% are toddlers too younger for preschool who obtain little one care and residential visits, my colleague Lauren FitzPatrick reviews.
Greater than 28,000 younger kids in Illinois are enrolled in this system at about 600 facilities, in keeping with the Illinois Head Begin Affiliation, which is coordinating efforts to barrage members of Congress.
“Once we determine to disinvest and defund kids’s training, we additionally disinvest and defund our workforce. We restrict our worker prospects and our management prospects, and it simply is a blow to the complete neighborhood,” mentioned Nicole Robinson, a Head Begin graduate who leads the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. “Mother and father are riled up … so for us, defunding or de-investing in little one care is a nonstarter. [Chicago Sun-Times]
4. The feds are not searching for $3.1 million from former Illinois Home Speaker Michael Madigan
The feds notified U.S. District Choose John Blakey of their place in a two-page standing replace filed Friday, which mentioned prosecutors proceed “to face on the authorized arguments” made March 28, once they first argued Madigan ought to forfeit the $3.1 million, Jon Seidel reviews for the Chicago Solar-Occasions.
Nevertheless, it mentioned, “the federal government has determined to not search a forfeiture judgment” in Madigan’s case.
The revelation will possible scuttle a deliberate June 9 forfeiture listening to in Madigan’s case, although Blakey has but to reply to the feds’ standing replace. Madigan’s sentencing listening to continues to be set for June 13, when he’ll in all probability face jail time. [Chicago Sun-Times]
5. The Midwest Tulip Fest is in full bloom with 700,000 crops from the Netherlands
The fourth annual fest at Kuipers Household Farm in Maple Park will solely final via mid-Could, relying on the blooming season, Erica Thompson reviews for the Chicago Solar-Occasions.
The occasion showcases 700,000 tulips, together with 30 varieties, unfold over 8 acres. And with meals, dozens of sights and reside leisure, it’s straightforward to spend a full day on the farm with out losing interest.
The Kuipers household, who’re of Dutch heritage, import tulip bulbs from the Netherlands and plant them round November. They bloom in phases starting in March.
This 12 months’s plantings embody tomato-colored Purple Impressions and crimson and yellow Esta Bonita tulip varieties. Within the late-bloom stage, guests can count on to see darkish purple Paul Scherer tulips, a favourite of the farm’s common supervisor, Joe Kuipers. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Right here’s what else is going on
- Right here’s what President Donald Trump has performed and never performed through the first 100 days of his second time period. [AP]
- The U.S. Supreme Courtroom heard arguments in a college incapacity discrimination case in the present day. [NPR]
- Right here’s what you should find out about in the present day’s Canadian election. [NPR]
- A significant energy outage in Spain and Portugal knocked out subway networks, visitors lights and ATMs. [AP]
Oh, and yet one more factor …
Two days earlier than the Bears would draft him, Colston Loveland helped model cattle again house in Gooding, Idaho, my colleague Patrick Finley reviews for the Chicago Solar-Occasions. Loveland was cautious to not take any pointless dangers with a shoulder that’s three months faraway from surgical procedure.
Lengthy earlier than he starred as a good finish at Michigan, Loveland was put to work in his small city about 45 minutes from the place Evel Knievel tried to leap the Snake River Canyon. Loveland grew up on a farm down the highway in Bliss, which boasts fewer than 300 folks.
“All everybody does there’s work,” Loveland mentioned. “Seeing how my dad and mom grew up, they simply labored their butts off. … Rising up that means, it’s simply completely different. I wouldn’t say lots of people are constructed for it. However it’s a blessing being from there. I discovered quite a lot of classes, and it’s going to take me a great distance.” [Chicago Sun-Times]
Inform me one thing good …
A part of Lincoln Sq. was closed to automobile visitors final week, and that has me questioning, what modifications would you make to your neighborhood if given an opportunity?
Be happy to electronic mail me, and your response could also be included within the e-newsletter this week.
