Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Monday, September 25, 2017.
- Bears on Trump NFL comments: “This divisive political situation has unified our franchise for the present and the future”
The Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers both responded to President Donald Trump’s controversial comments about the National Football League before their game at Soldier Field Sunday. The Steelers, with the exception of one player, remained in the locker room during the national anthem, and most of the Bears locked arms in a show of unity. There’s been an uproar since Friday, when Trump said that NFL team owners should fire any “son of a bitch” who knelt during the national anthem. “The Chicago Bears are proud to support our players, coaches and all members of our organization to bring peace and unity together through football,” Bears chairman George McCaskey said. “What makes this the greatest country in the world are the liberties it was founded upon and the freedom to express oneself in a respectful and peaceful manner. Through important dialogue with our players and team, this divisive political situation has unified our franchise for the present and the future.” [Tribune]
- Alderman Lopez calls CPD gang database “deeply flawed,” calls for overhaul
Alderman Ray Lopez is calling for an overhaul of the Chicago Police Department’s “deeply flawed” gang database, which includes more than 398,000 residents. Lopez has suggested that Chicagoans on the list should be allowed to challenge it. “The current system is overly cumbersome and does not help individuals who may have no idea they are on the list,” Lopez said. “Just like the [Transportation Safety Administration’s] ‘No Fly’ list, this deeply flawed system exposes us to unnecessary legal liability and accusations of violations of Chicagoans’ civil liberties. We must act quickly to address these concerns.” [DNAinfo Chicago]
- Dennis Hastert victim speaks out for the first time since testifying
Scott Cross was well-known in political circles as the brother of former Illinois house minority leader Tom Cross, but no one knew that he was molested by former U.S. house speaker Dennis Hastert until last year, when he testified against Hastert in court. Now Cross has been instrumental in the passage of a new Illinois law that eliminates the statute of limitations for criminal sexual abuse of children. He discussed his advocacy efforts in a recent interview on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight. [Chicago Tonight]
- Miglin murder may be the focus of American Crime Story shooting in Chicago
FX’s anthology series American Crime Story is looking for extras to film in Chicago Friday, which has people speculating that the show is filming the 1997 murder of Chicago real estate tycoon Lee Miglin by serial killer Andrew Cunanan. Cunanan killed fashion designer Gianni Versace in Miami weeks after murdering Miglin in his Gold Coast garage. Cunanan’s motive for brutally torturing and killing Miglin has never been definitively established. [Tribune]
- Family Matters house in Lincoln Park to be demolished and replaced with condos
The Lincoln Park house used in exterior shots of the iconic 1990s sitcom Family Matters is set to be demolished. The house at 1516 W. Wrightwood, which made a prominent appearance in the show’s opening credits, will be replaced with a three-unit condo building. [DNAinfo Chicago]