Good morning, Chicago. We’re starting to see a consistent downward trend in new daily COVID-19 cases in Illinois. Yesterday, state officials reported 933 new cases, which brought the seven-day average to the lowest number it’s been since late July. Officials also said 65% of adults have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, which is nearing President Joe Biden’s goal of 70% of adults with one at least one shot by July 4.
Speaking of vaccines, in an effort to get more people to get their shots, companies have been offering incentives that range from free doughnuts to free rolled joints. Now, Chicago-based United has joined in on the encouragement, offering free flights to some vaccinated customers.
Meanwhile in Springfield, Democrats unveiled a proposed legislative map that would pit Republican incumbents against each other in eight House districts. House Republican leader Jim Durkin and other Illinois GOP members likened the map to “a kindergartner’s artwork.” As the state legislators’ spring session nears its end, here’s what to watch for.
— Nicole Stock, audience editor
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As the Commonwealth Edison lobbying scandal has rocked state government, much of the focus has been on laws that resulted in customers paying more for a smart grid and a bailout of nuclear power plants.
But there’s a third, lesser-known measure that also has had a big impact on customers’ wallets: a 2013 law that allowed ComEd to use a trio of accounting techniques to help its bottom line. The Illinois Public Interest Research Group is out with a new analysis contending the law cost electricity users more than $600 million over the last seven years
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— a figure ComEd disputes.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot yesterday unveiled her long-awaited plan for civilian oversight of the Chicago Police Department, saying “the buck stops with me” in an ordinance that would keep authority for hiring and firing the superintendent and other key Police Department decisions with the mayor.
Cardinal Blase Cupich is reinstating the Rev. Michael Pfleger as senior pastor at St. Sabina Parish after the archdiocesan board that investigates sexual abuse claims found “there is insufficient reason to suspect” the iconic South Side priest is guilty of allegations of abuse dating back decades, according to a letter released to parishioners Monday.
Two adult brothers from Texas in January lodged complaints that in the 1970s each was molested by Pfleger, the high-profile pastor of St. Sabina in the Gresham neighborhood who has clashed with a succession of Catholic leaders over many matters, including his unusually long tenure at the same parish.
With Black student enrollment at Illinois colleges and universities in a steep decline, a new coalition of educators, business executives, politicians and students has unveiled its proposals for closing the equity gap between Black and white students in higher education.
Sunny skies and warm weather ahead of Memorial Day weekend have Chicagoans just begging for dinner reservations — but they’re sometimes hard to come by as restaurants and bars are in the midst of expanding their service offerings. Here’s our updated list of new restaurants and reopenings.
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