Welcome to RedEye Rush Hour, your breakdown of news to help you pass the time while you’re surviving your commute.
A gruesome milestone
What’s up: Chicago surpassed 700 homicides for 2016 on Wednesday for the first time in almost twenty years, according to official Police Department reports. These 701 killings mark a 56 percent increase from 450 murders at this time last year.
Why you care: Do we really need to answer this? With one month left this year, 2016 has had the highest number of killings since the 704 murders that occurred in 1998.
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Soundbite: “What we need help in is holding these repeat gun offenders accountable for this gun violence, and until we do that, we’re going to continue to see the cycle of violence,” said Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson.
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Totally didn’t see this coming
What’s up: Bears Quarterback Jay Cutler is officially out for the season. Shocker.
Why you care: Cutler has long been on the city of Chicago’s sh*t list and after an injury to his right shoulder, head coach John Fox made the official announcement that Cutler would be out for the rest of the season.
Soudbite: “I talked to him earlier today. He’s in good spirits,” Fox said. “It wasn’t like (surgery) was never going to be an option. You try to avoid it, especially for a quarterback on your throwing shoulder. But he talked to many capable doctors, like he should. So that’s been the determination at this point.”
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Avoid the boot
What’s up: Chicago’s winter parking ban is now officially in effect, both in instances of 2+ inches of snow and no snow at all.
Why you care: Unless you get some sick joy out of getting your car towed, you should probably figure out where you can and cannot park the whip.
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Kanye has left the building
What’s up: After more than a week of hospitalization, rapper and South Side native Kanye West has been released from UCLA Medical Center.
Why you care: Kanye has had a hell of a ride the last couple of months. From going on rants about his (apparently pro-Trump) political views, calling out Queen B and Jay-Z and suddenly canceling the rest of his Saint Pablo Tour, the father of two was finally convinced to seek medical attention on Nov. 21.
Soundbite: “I’ve been sent here to give y’all my truth, even at the risk of my own life,” West said at a concert. “At the risk of my own success. I’ll give y’all the truth. Jay Z, call me, you still ain’t called me…. Jay Z, I know you got killers. Please don’t send them at my head. Just call me. Talk to me like a man.”
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Hey now, not the All-Star
What’s up: The All-Star Game will no longer determine which team, either from the American League or the National League, has the home-field advantage in the World Series.
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Why you care: If you’re not a baseball person, you probably don’t. But if you are, you know that the rule has garnered criticism over the years. It’ll now be determined by which team has the better regular-season record. Simple, no?
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