Welcome to RedEye Rush Hour, your breakdown of news to help you pass the time while you’re surviving your commute.
Not “out of control”
What’s up: Chicago’s top cop, CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson, is pushing back against the perception of Chicago as a “city overrun by murder and violence,” saying that certain parts of the city must be addressed at a downtown City Club of Chicago breakfast.
Why you care: November pushed homicides in the city to the highest level in nearly two decades, topping 700 homicides earlier this month. As of Johnson’s statement this morning, 711 people have been murdered so far in 2016. During the election, President-elect Donald Trump often used Chicago as an example of the necessity of law and order, much to the chagrin of some Chicago citizens on social media.
Soundbite: “When you leave here today, I want you to burn into your memory 711,” Johnson said. “Seven hundred and eleven people have been murdered in the city of Chicago to date. Seven hundred and eleven lives, 711 families that won’t get to see their relatives for Christmas this year.”
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2016 or 1945?
What’s up: Posters of Adolf Hitler, swastikas and the slogan “No Degeneracy, No Tolerance, Hail Victory” were found on the University of Chicago campus. Because people are awful.
Why you care: In the wake of the election of Donald Trump as president, a wave of hate crimes have surfaced around the country. The posters were claimed by a neo-Nazi group and campus police are still investigating.
Soundbite: In an email last month, the president and provost of the university sent an email to all students, asking “for your help and commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion, free expression and open discourse.” Good job so far.
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.Chance’s magnificent year continues
What’s up: Chicago’s own Chance the Rapper, snagged seven Grammy nominations, falling only two behind Queen Bey’s nine noms—and only one behind Kanye, Drake and Rihanna.
Why you care: Chance has had a truly amazing 2016 and it looks like 2017 might be just as good to him. Prior to this year, recordings that were not commercially sold weren’t eligible for Grammy nomination, but in the wake of Chance’s “Coloring Book” release, the academy retired the outdated rule. Chance has never sold a single piece of recorded music, releasing all of his albums and singles as free to download or stream.
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Sale for sale
What’s up: The White Sox traded ace left-hander Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox for four top prospects, including infielder Yoan Moncada, the No. 1 prospect of 2016, according to MLB.com.
Why you care: The South Siders are officially in rebuilding mode after a lackluster 2016 season. Sale has been a top-five finisher in the American League Cy Young voting for the last four years, but that hasn’t been enough to pull the Sox out of an eight-season postseason drought.
Soundbite: “When you trade a pitcher of Chris Sale’s ability, it can only be because we were motivated by an impactful return of young talent, and we have more than accomplished that,” said Sox general manager Rick Hahn in a statement.
For more, click here.
Go for grocer
What’s up: Amazon Go is bringing brick-and-mortar grocery shops to life, with no lines or registers.
Why you care: To shop at these grocery stores of the future, simply head to the store, open the corresponding app and scan your phone as you walk in. When you’re done collecting your haul, just walk out. No, you won’t be shoplifting; the app will automatically charge your Amazon account. No stores are planned for Chicago yet, but Seattle will see the first store in 2017.
Soundbite: “Our checkout-free shopping experience is made possible by the same types of technologies used in self-driving cars: computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning,” Amazon said in an FAQ page.
For more, click here.
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