The must-read news stories for August 9, 2013
Anitra Holloway, a student at Yale Elementary School, runs down West 70th Street past “3hunnak” song lyrics by Lil JoJo on April 25, 2012. Lil Jojo, whose real name was Joseph Coleman, was a member of the Brick Squad street gang, and was gunned down and mortally wounded just north of Yale School on Sept. 4, 2012, after tweeting his location. References to Lil JoJo, his lyrics and gang graffiti are visible under the viaduct between South Harvard Avenue and South Princeton Avenue along West 70th Street. | Jessica Koscielniak/Sun-Times
CPS announces ‘Safe Passage’ routes
Under heavy criticism, the CPS announced the routes for their planned “Safe Passage” program, which they say will offer students from closing schools safe trips to their new schools. While 600 newly hired safety workers in yellow vests will be posted along the routes, the plan is still being met with skepticism from some aldermen. Ald. Willie Cochran (20th) said, “In some very high-traffic locations, streets have not been marked adequately with appropriate signage in place to curb traffic and speeds.” Earlier this year, Sun-Times reporter Lauren FitzPatrick and multimedia reporter Jessica Koscielniak covered some of the new paths for students at three South Side schools for our “Final Bell” series. [Sun-Times, Interactive Map, Full set of CPS maps, Final Bell]
Obama presser
At a press conference this afternoon, President Obama promised changes to oversight of NSA surveillance. [WaPo]
Too far for postal service?
The postal service is facing criticism after it ceased delivering mail to a block in Logan Square following a violent attack on the route’s mail carrier. [Sun-Times]
Another grilling
CPS officials got a healthy grilling from aldermen today. [CBS 2, Fran Spielman]
Daley disses Quinn again
While still refusing to talk about patronage under his brother and father when they were mayors, gubernatorial candidate Bill Daley went after Gov. Pat Quinn again over a recent appointment. Daley’s lack of irony also landed him in our top quotes of the week. [Sun-Times, Voices]
Happy Minden Day
The strange tradition of Minden Day. [Gapers Block]
Sad day at the zoo
Brookfield Zoo had a rough Thursday when a week-old dolphin calf died. [Sun-Times]
“Racism row” for Oprah
Switzerland picked the wrong mogul to mess with when a store clerk, in what is now being defended as a “misunderstanding,” allegedly refused to show Oprah Winfrey a very expensive handbag in an incident that Winfrey says was racially motivated. [BBC]
RIP
Actress Karen Black, best known for Five Easy Pieces, Easy Rider, and Nashville, died yesterday. [Sun-Times]
Young Rahm
WBEZ jumped in the way-back machine this week to see what Mayor Rahm Emanuel was like at the age of 25. [WBEZ]
Playing the feud
Actress Leah Remini is now feuding with the Church of Scientology over the alleged disappearance of the wife of church leader David Miscavige. [Gawker]
Bear down
The Bears kick off their preseason tonight against the Carolina Panthers so here are five things to watch for when the game gets underway. [Sun-Times]
Adios, Rios
Alex Rios is headed to the Rangers. [ESPN]
The Bright One
We spent this week revisiting that night 25 years ago when the lights went on at Wrigley Field for the first time. [Voices]
Commute
Sudoku; Weather; Traffic; CTA; Metra; Flight delays
And finally
And then one time NASA found a pink planet. [Daily Mail]
