- Illinois school funding bill includes city property tax increase of up to $130 million a year
As the Illinois house's Democratic and Republican caucuses met to discuss the school funding bill Monday ahead of a vote, some details trickled out. The bill reportedly contains a property tax increase of up to $130 million a year for Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office is "still assessing the bill," spokesman Adam Collins told Crain's Chicago Business. "We have always looked to separate pension costs from CPS operating costs as a way to protect classrooms," Collins wrote in an e-mail. "This (tax hike) isn't something that would be taken lightly but, combined with the state stepping up on normal pension costs, it would be a step toward that end." [Crain's Chicago Business]
- Who's most likely to run against Rahm Emanuel in 2019
Mayor Rahm Emanuel is likely to run for reelection for a third term in 2019, but "he has not made a final decision on whether his polling numbers have rebounded enough to risk facing an angry electorate openly hostile to incumbents," according to the Sun-Times. Assuming that Emanuel does run, the newspaper has drawn up a list of his potential challengers, from Cook County commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, former Chicago Police Department superintendent Garry McCarthy, and Cook County sheriff Tom Dart to city treasurer Kurt Summers, alderman and gubernatorial candidate Ameya Pawar, and Cook County commissioner Bridget Gainer. No clear frontrunner emerged. [Sun-Times]
- Rauner signs automatic voter registration, immigration bills
Governor Bruce Rauner signed two major bills into law Monday: one that allows automatic voter registration, and one that limits the cooperation of local and state police with federal immigration officers. Illinois residents will now be automatically registered to vote when they visit the secretary of state's office or other state agencies, unless they choose to opt out of voter registration. Supporters hope that the law will boost voter turnout. Rauner also signed legislation that "prohibits police from searching, arresting or detaining someone solely because of immigration status, or because of so-called federal immigration detainers," but if the person has a valid criminal warrant for his or her arrest, local police will be able to communicate with federal immigration agents. "This took months and months of difficult negotiations," the governor said at the signing. [Associated Press via WBEZ] [Associated Press via ABC News]
- The Jon Burge CPD torture case will be part of the CPS curriculum
Chicago Public Schools eighth- and tenth-grade students will learn about the infamous Jon Burge torture cases. Former Chicago Police detective Jon Burge and his "midnight crew" allegedly beat, suffocated and electrocuted victims in the 1980s and 1990s to coerce confessions, which were frequently false. The curriculum for CPS was "developed as part of the settlement with victims," according to the Sun-Times. [Sun-Times]
- Eddie Johnson's kidney transplant scheduled for Wednesday
Chicago Police Department superintendent Eddie Johnson is scheduled to receive a kidney transplant from his 25-year-old son Daniel Wednesday. "I'm ready to get it over with," he said. "I feel great. I've always been the guy who doesn't like things hanging over my head, so I want to get it done." Johnson, who suffers from kidney disease, collapsed at a news conference in January. [DNAinfo Chicago]
- A hidden gem: Torres Omar Jewelers' customers include the Weeknd, athletes
Torres Omar Jewelers in Logan Square has many famous customers including the Weeknd, Chicago native Vic Mensa, and several athletes, like boxer Julio César Chávez Sr. The family-owned business has been located at 2624 N. Milwaukee for 23 years since relocating from Lakeview. The Weeknd was introduced to the store by his producer, Mano, and has since bought several items from the store. "He came in for the American Express event Small Business Saturday to get a gift for a friend," Cynthia Torres, whose family owns the store, told DNAinfo Chicago. "He really liked the customer service and decided to return for a couple more purchases, and commissioned us to do a custom piece." [DNAinfo Chicago]