‘71 f__kin’ degrees. In February. In Chicago.’ / E-Macy-ated / See an Oscar nominee—free
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‘Seventy-one fuckin’ degrees. In February. In Chicago. I should just leave that sentence as the entire post.’ But Chicago’s freakishly warm weather sends columnist Neil Steinberg back to something he wrote in 1997.
■ And here comes the whiplash—from a potentially record-breaking high of 76 today to a (possibly tornadic) stormy night and then a high tomorrow of maybe only 27.
■ A University of Michigan climate sciences professor emeritus explains: “One of the most robust measures of Earth’s changing climate is that winter is warming more quickly than other seasons.”
■ The Conversation: E-bike incentives are a costly but effective—and healthy—way to clear the air.
‘Chicago’s top priority.’ A Sun-Times editorial says it must be addressing gun violence—in real time.
■ With one suspect in custody, police were still seeking a second in connection with Chicago’s third mass shooting in two days.
E-Macy-ated. Macy’s plans to?close 150 stores over the next three years—50 by the end of the year.
■ It says it’ll reinvest some of the savings in its remaining stores …
■ … including Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury.
■ JPMorgan Chase is investing in Chicago—with plans to renovate its downtown office tower near Madison and Dearborn.
Jewel, Mariano’s merger roadblock. The Federal Trade Commission—joined by Illinois’ attorney general, among others—is suing to kill a deal to combine those grocery stores’ parent companies, Kroger and Albertson’s.
■ Bryan Clark at the Idaho Statesman calls for the government to aim higher—and break up Walmart.
‘Everything’s running like a well-oiled engine … right off the tracks.’ USA Today columnist Rex Huppke takes stock of the “absolute mess” that is the Republican Party.
■ Donald Trump’s niece, Mary L. Trump, assesses his “nightmare … with interest.”
■ The Daily Beast: Some Michigan Democrats are betting their votes against President Biden today will save him from defeat in November.
■ Journalism critic Mark Jacob: “Most Americans are not taking our political crisis seriously enough—because our media aren’t. Too many journalists cover the rise of Republican fascism like it’s a streaming series on Hulu when they should cover it like it’s a Cat 5 hurricane.”
■ Ready to vote early? Check the Chicago Public Square 2024 Illinois Primary Voter Guide Guide.
‘A situation of genocide.’ A United Nations civil rights expert tells The Guardian that Israel is deliberately starving Palestinians—a war crime.
■ On his third go-round as The Daily Show’s new/old host, Jon Stewart offered a solution to the war between Israel and Hamas: “Israel stops bombing. Hamas releases the hostages. The Arab countries … form, like, a NATO arrangement guaranteeing security for both sides. Obviously, they won’t call it NATO. It’s the Middle East Treaty Organization. It’s ME-TOo.”
■ A flood of antisemitic slurs prompted shutdown of last night’s Evanston City Council public comment session on Zoom.
Late night in the spotlight. Acclaimed TV writer Bill Carter is among those behind a new website and newsletter, LateNighter, devoted specifically to covering what airs after the late local news …
■ … including a critical look at Biden’s visit to the 10th anniversary celebration for Seth Meyers on Late Night …
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■ … in which Biden addressed concerns about his age.
■ Subscribe to LateNighter free here.
Spotted in Florida. A state health department letter offers what Your Local Epidemiologist calls “unprecedented” and problematic guidance in the face of a measles outbreak …
■ … the dangers of which many have forgotten.
Pritzker drops Sox pitch. Illinois’ governor says he’s “reluctant” to kick in taxpayer money for a new White Sox ballpark …
■ … but he’s down to spend $23 million to improve “maternal health and birth equity”—particularly for Black women—in Chicago.
See an Oscar nominee—free. A Best Documentary Short candidate, The ABCs of Book Banning, is streaming on YouTube at no charge through Feb. 29.
■ Literary Activism columnist Kelly Jensen: “The film was inspired by … a 100-year-old woman protesting book bans.”
■ Politico reviews yesterday’s Supreme Court cases that could remake online speech.
‘The city editor who changed my life.’ Block Club Chicago co-founder Stephanie Lulay honors Aurora Beacon-News veteran John Russell, dead at 72.
■ Wired: A small Iowa newspaper’s website became an AI-generated clickbait factory.
Correction. One of the most-tapped items in yesterday’s Chicago Public Square had a do where it should’ve had a don’t: Gizmodo explains why you don’t need to use airplane mode on airplanes—but you should, because you’ll be violating (outdated) federal law if you don’t.
■ Thanks to Mike Braden, first to report the problem.
■ Also yesterday, Square erroneously suggested that the Vice.com website had been taken offline. It just hasn’t been updated. Sibling site Motherboard.com, though? That’s toast—and up for sale.
‘Square helps me get through the chaos of local and national politics.’ That’s unsolicited praise for this service from a reader yesterday.
■ If you agree, join that reader in supporting this service for any amount—even just $1, once …
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