Here are some of the top stories of the week from Chicago and beyond (Sunday, Sept. 3 through Friday, Sept. 8).
Irma devastates islands, sets sights on Florida
Hurricane Irma, a powerful Category 5 storm, laid waste to a string of Caribbean Islands this week, smashing homes, schools and roads and leaving thousands of people homeless.
The storm appeared headed straight for the Miami metropolitan area on a path that would punish the entire length of the state’s east coast, prompting the evacuation of millions in South Florida and Key West.
Some Florida residents seeking flights out of the state were facing ticket prices of more than $3,000 for last-minute bookings, but some airlines, such as JetBlue and American are capping prices at $99.
The storm sideswiped Puerto Rico, knocking out power for about a million people.
But islands such as Barbuda, St. Martin and the U.S. Virgin Islands were not as lucky, with catastrophic damage reported.
Trump ends DACA, pushes fate of Dreamers onto Congress
President Donald Trump ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that former President Barack Obama put in place to protect hundreds of thousands of people brought to America illegally as children, saying it’s up to Congress to pass a bill that protects them.
Trump sent out Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make the announcement on Tuesday, giving Congress a six-month window to take action, though there appears to be no consensus among Republicans about what form that might take.
Chicago-area recipients of the DACA program vowed to turn their fears of deportation into action, reports Vikki Ortiz Healy
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. Illinois has the nation’s fourth-largest DACA population, with at least 42,376 people approved.More than 1,000 protesters gathered downtown Thursday evening to protest Trump’s decision, shutting down Congress Parkway for a time, reports Tony Briscoe.
Illinois business leaders warned of economic harm from ending the program. It would cost the state $2.3 billion in annual gross domestic product, according to a July report from the left-leaning Center for American Progress, reports Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz.
Columnist Robert Reed called Trump’s move the “most anti-business decision he’s made,” while Rex Huppke writes Trump is turning America the beautiful into “America the cruel.”
For the latest news on immigration, visit Immigration at a Crossroads.
Equifax hack: The credit reporting agency said that hackers gained access to the personal data for up to 143 million Americans. The company announced it on Thursday, even though it discovered the breach in late July. In a move a company spokeswoman said was unrelated, three managers at the company sold large amounts of stock in the days after the breach was discovered. What do you need to do to protect yourself? Gail MarksJarvis has the answers.
Trump’s deals with Democrats: Trump cut a deal with Congressional Democrats on Wednesday to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling for three months and speed $7.9 billion in aid to Texas for Hurricane Harvey recovery. On Thursday, the Senate followed suit and doubled the aid package to $15.3 billion, sending it back to the House, which approved it Friday and sent it to Trump.
Trump Jr. meets with senators: Donald Trump Jr. met with lawmakers on Thursday and said he only took a meeting with a Russian lawyer last year because he was interested in information about Hillary Clinton’s “fitness, character or qualifications” for office.
Prosecutors: Minnesota girl held 29 days, tied up and raped before escaping
Grandparents, refugees with formal assurances can enter under Trump travel ban, court rules
Fashion giants including Dior, Gucci, Mark Jacobs agree to ban size 0 models
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Museum grant came after Pritzker donation to Blagojevich
In 2006, J.B. Pritzker, who was raising money to build a Holocaust museum, and his wife gave $100,000 in campaign contributions to Friends of Blajojevich, as then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich was running for re-election.
Four days after the donation, Blagojevich announced he was giving a $1 million state grant to support construction of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, report David Heinzmann and Todd Lighty.
Pritzker, now a Democratic candidate for governor, said he was “very proud of the work” he’s done on the museum and a spokesman said there was no connection between the donation and the grant.
No alert after CTA attack: A stranger pushed a man onto the subway tracks at the CTA’s Washington Street station in August, but the CTA nor the Chicago police issued a public alert about the attack, report Jeremy Gorner and Rosemary Regina Sobol.
Big Soda, Big Tobacco: Cook County Commissioner Toni Preckwinkle said the big-money fight against her soda tax is being driven by Big Soda, which she said is reminiscent of the days the tobacco industry fought taxes and education, reports Hal Dardick.
“SNL” exhibit in Chicago: A major show chronicling four decades of the NBC show “Saturday Night Live,” is coming to the Museum of Broadcast Communications in October, reports Steve Johnson.
Chicago photos in the news
Illinois spent millions on stalled and canceled university construction projects
‘Zombie’ coyotes reportedly seen in suburbs, and residents warned to keep away
Student moms who breast-feed will get space at schools under new Illinois law
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Trubisky named Bears’ No. 2 quarterback
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Bears rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky is moving up the depth chart already. Coach John Fox named him as the backup behind starter Mike Glennon for Sunday’s opener against the Falcons at Soldier Field, reports Dan Wiederer.
“He’s earned it,” Fox said. “It’s not something we handed him for any particular reason other than he earned it.”
The move rewarded Trubisky’s growth during a preseason where he outshined Glennon and puts the rookie just one play away from game action, a sign of the Bears’ confidence and trust that Trubisky grasped the position quicker than they expected, writes David Haugh.
Glennon is no Mitch Trubisky, but he’s no Jay Cutler either. And that’s helped him earn his teammates’ respect, writes Dan Wiederer.
Also on Wednesday, the Bears released linebacker Lamarr Houston, who was one of their marquee free agent signings in 2014. For the latest on the Bears as they prepare for the season opener, visit our Bears page.
Jake Arrieta out with hamstring injury: The Cubs ace suffered a Grade 1 strain of his right hamstring against Pittsburgh on Monday and will miss at least one start, reports Mark Gonzales.
Sox rookie not lacking confidence: “I truly believe that I can be playing here right now,” said Eloy Jimenez while visiting the White Sox dugout Tuesday. Jimenez, MLB.com’s No. 6 prospect who came to the Sox from the Cubs in the Carlos Quintana deal, had a great minor-league season but has played in just 18 games in Double A, reports Colleen Kane.
Red Sox caught stealing: A member of the Boston Red Sox training staff used an Apple Watch to relay signs by New York Yankees catchers to Boston players during a series last month at Fenway Park.
Gene Michael, Cubs manager in 1986 and 1987, dies at 79
Youth football participation declines as worries mount about concussions, CTE
Michael Bennett accuses Las Vegas police of racially motivated excessive force
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension in domestic violence case upheld
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Chicago will make bid for Amazon’s second home
Amazon is planning a second U.S. headquarters and is seeking proposals for a 50,000-employee campus and Chicago is very interested, report Ryan Ori and Lauren Zumbach.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has spoken with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos several times about picking the city, a spokesman for the mayor said.
Amazon said it would invest more than $5 billion on the new campus and jobs would pay an average of more than $100,000 annually.
Tronc buys New York tabloid: The parent company of the baiduhai, Los Angeles Times and other newspapers purchased the New York Daily News for $1 with the assumption of debt and pension liabilities, report Rick Kogan and Robert Channick.
That guacamole will cost you: A nationwide avocado shortage this summer is forcing Chicago restaurants, and you, to pay a premium price for the popular green fruit, reports Greg Trotter.
Wedding pics with Picasso?: The city is renting out Daley Plaza, home of the famous 50-foot-tall Pablo Picasso sculpture, for use for weddings, corporate outings and other events, reports Ryan Ori.
Amazon comes to Kohl’s: Shoppers in Chicago and Los Angeles will be able to buy Amazon devices and products at the department store chain, reports Lauren Zumbach.
Freelancers sue Ebony magazine, claiming $70,000 in unpaid work
Facebook claims it can reach more Americans than actually exist, analyst writes
United Airlines won’t be fined for passenger-dragging incident, feds say