Good morning. High today in the mid 60s. [Forecast]
BreakingThe Cubs and city make a deal for Wrigley field renovation. Must be a miracle on Addison; a Jumbotron is on the way. News conference 11 a.m. at Wrigley Field, but the story burst out last night; see links below.BreakingSecretary of State John Kerry will stop in Chicago on Monday to visit the parents of Anne Smedinghoff, a young U.S. diplomat from River Forest who was killed while delivering textbooks in southern Afghanistan on April 6. [Sun-Times]BreakingThe Senate “Gang of Eight” will unveil a bi-partisan immigration bill on Tuesday morning. Congress returns from spring break with a major week ahead; the main action is over in the Senate with historic gun-control and immigration legislation debated. Prognosis: Immigration measures will be easier to pass than gun provisions.Exclusive: Mayor Rahm Emanuel heads to Washington this week; on Thursday he’s the headliner at a forum hosted by The Atlantic._____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Friendly confines facelift
The Cubs will renovate Wrigley Field and develop the land around it under a “framework” unveiled Sunday that includes a 5,000-square-foot video scoreboard in left field; an 800-square-foot see-through sign in right field; 40 night games; street fairs on weekend game days, and signage all over a new hotel and open-air plaza. [Sun-Times] [Tribune] [Crain’s] [ABC7]
Negotiations between the Cubs and the city have been in extra innings. A timeline with the details. [Sun-Times] And speaking of baseball, with the release of “42,” a photo gallery of Jackie Robinson in Chicago. [Sun-Times]
Senate tackles immigration, guns
It’s a big week ahead for Congress–immigration, guns, and the budget, where Democratic are not happy with President Barack Obama’s proposed changes to Social Security. The House has a series of budget hearings. [House.gov]
On the Senate side, it’s guns and immigration. Sweeping immigration proposal to be released on Tuesday [USAToday] Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.) is the man to watch. [Washington Post]
On the gun front, families of shooting victims will be on Capitol Hill, along with former Rep. Gabby Gifford (D-Az.) recovering from her head wounds and her former astronaut husband, Mark Kelly. The couple is leading a major drive for gun control. May be schisms within the pro-gun community. [Washington Post]
Jesse Jackson Jr. surfaces
Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. surfaced at the Saturday meeting of Operation PUSH. [ABC7] Facing sentencing at the end of June, Jackson’s team is starting a “campaign” in the hopes that he will get less than four or five years in prison.
Crony conflict
One of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s biggest campaign contributors, Howard Labkon, has the president of the Fraternal Order of Police on his company’s payroll — a relationship that’s come to light as Emanuel and the union try to negotiate a new contract for 10,400 Chicago cops. [Sun-Times]
Abortion doctor trial
Assessing whether there is “enough” coverage of Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell. [Washington Post] The developing storyline breaking into mainstream media–pushed by conservative outlets–is that the Gosnell trial is not getting the attention it deserves from national media because of an abortion rights bias.
Justin Bieber and Ann Frank
Bieber visited Ann Frank’s hideout in Amsterdam, where her family and others hid from the Nazis–and his note in the guest book has triggered an uproar. Because it was more about him than her. [Bill Zwecker]
Chicago story obits
Blues guitarist Jimmy Dawkins was a son of Mississippi with a stinging West Side style. [Sun-Times’ Maureen O’Donnell]
CSO trumpet great Adolph ‘Bud’ Herseth dies at 91 [Sun-Times’ Andrewhttp://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/sports&id=9064877 Patner]
Political Business*Political veterans John Borovicka and Mike Alexander–each with deep government and political networks– are teaming up to launch Alexander & Borovicka Government Solutions. The firm will work at the federal, state and city levels.At-a-glance: Borovicka managed Rahm Emanuel’s first campaign for the House in 2001 and went on to be his Chicago District Director; ran the Chicago office of State Senator John Cullerton; worked for now Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.). Borovicka was Deputy Campaign Manager for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s final reelection campaign in 2007.Alexander has long ties to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), working in his Senate campaign and later joining his Senate staff, working in Washington and Illinois. In 2003, Alexander became the Director of Local Government Affairs for the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity (DCEO), serving under Jack Lavin, the current Chief of Staff to Governor Pat Quinn.
*Robert Weinberger, former 10th Congressional District Democrat
nominee on Sunday wed Jennefer Hirshberg, a one-time press secretary for former
First Lady Nancy Reagan at a lovely ceremony in suburban Washington. Durbin–who interned with Weinberger in the office of the late Sen. Paul Douglas (D-Ill.)– offered the first toast.Daybook*Obama honors the BCS National Champion University of Alabama Crimson Tide on the South Lawn of the White House.*Gov. Pat Quinn chairs a meeting of The Big River Moves Leadership Forum to discuss economic and environmental issues facing Mississippi River states at the Blackstone Hotel.*Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle paddles down the North Branch of the Chicago River with canoeists and kayakers. She launches from the Skokie Lagoons, Willow Road and North Forest Way.*Quinn and Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.)–in her first joint appearance with the governor since her swearing-in last week– will announce a project to update the Kankakee area’s water infrastructure.*Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno headlines the City Club of Chicago.*Because it’s April 15… Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) now a WIND-AM talk show host at a Chicago Tea Party and Tea Party Patriots Tax Day Tea Party Rally at the Daley Center. And happy birthday to cousin David, a Chicago parking and transportation planner whose last name really is Taxman.
Sports TodayWhite Sox at Toronto; Bulls at Toronto; Blackhawks host the
Stars.
