Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Crain's Chicago Business: Political polarization, racial tensions are bad for economic growth
These communities face unequal treatment from law enforcement, but also from government policies that foster a significant gap in employment rates with their white peers. This gap was widening throughout 2019, as Illinois’ economy began showing weakness. It became a chasm when state-mandated closure of businesses disproportionately forced minority workers out of jobs.
Chicago Tribune: Court-appointed monitor will investigate allegations of Chicago police abuse of protesters
The court-appointed monitor overseeing broad reforms to the troubled Chicago Police Department said Friday that she will investigate and report on allegations that officers abused protesters.
Former federal prosecutor Maggie Hickey said that “to promote transparency,” she would get information from community members, police and other city departments. Hickey said she would then prepare a report on officers’ handling of the widespread street demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
Crain's Chicago Business: When will public transit feel safe to ride again?
Jan Goldberg, a retired teacher from Riverside, normally uses the CTA or Metra to go downtown for volunteer work or social engagements. But in a post-COVID-19 world, she is reluctant to return to mass transit, not knowing whether passengers will be crowded together or socially distanced.
“I would be skittish about going back,” she says.
Chicago Sun-Times: COPA recommends officers involved in Brickyard Mall incident be taken off street during investigation
Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability has recommended the officers involved in dragging a woman from a car by her hair and smashing the car’s windows at the Brickyard Mall be stripped of their police powers and reassigned to desk duty.
Police spokeswoman Karie James said Friday morning the officers still had their police powers. She said did not know if the officers had been reassigned to desk duty.
Chicago Sun-Times: Lightfoot: Fire police officers who flipped off protesters, covered nametags and badges
Chicago Police officers who covered their badge numbers and nametags and were photographed giving the finger to protesters should be fired, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Friday.
“This is gonna be the superintendent’s call ultimately. But, in my view, they’ve forfeited their right to be Chicago Police officers,” Lightfoot said.
The Center Square: COVID-19 workers’ compensation bill on governor’s desk
It’s now up to Gov. J.B. Pritzker to approve a measure lawmakers passed last month that differs slightly from an emergency rule he tried to unilaterally issue in April regarding who covers the costs when a worker gets COVID-19.
House Bill 2455 passed during last month’s pandemic special session at the statehouse. One aspect of the bill deals with who covers the costs if an essential employee gets COVID-19.
WBEZ: Chicagoans demand police be removed from schools, CPS says they value 'feedback'
Activists on the streets protesting police killings and brutality are ramping up their demand to end the controversial practice of stationing police in Chicago public schools.
They came out in large numbers Thursday evening, first at a North Side rally and march that drew at least a thousand students, teachers and parents. Later, a few hundred protesters gathered in front of a closed South Side school. There, youth activists said the police presence in their schools makes them feel unsafe.
Chicago Sun-Times: Police Board president files complaint after being struck by CPD during weekend protests
The president of the Chicago Police Board — the mayorally appointed body that metes out discipline for Chicago Police officers — said Friday he was struck by an officer during last weekend’s protests in Kenwood.
“I, indeed, was one of several individuals physically hit and struck by Chicago police on Sunday as they clashed with protestors,” Board president Ghian Foreman said in a statement issued Friday afternoon. “I was not participating in the protest, but coincidentally encountered the demonstration at a moment when it became confrontational.”