Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Thursday, June 23, 2016.
- Weather: Cooler, with more rain possible
After the severe weather Wednesday, it will be calmer Thursday, but rain and/or thunderstorms are possible in the morning and afternoon. Expect of a high of 74 and a low of 64. [AccuWeather]
- Chicago Teachers Union protests continue
The Chicago Teachers Union took to the first floor of City Hall and the streets outside Wednesday morning to bash Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Governor Bruce Rauner and Chicago Public Schools head Forrest Claypool and voice their opinions on a number of issues, including an elected school board. Former governor Pat Quinn joined the union members and blasted the ongoing public-school funding issues. “The people of Illinois deserve a budget, and that’s the job of the governor,” Quinn said. [Sun-Times]
- Congressional reps Kelly and Schakowsky join House floor sit-in for gun control
Two local Democratic members of Congress, Robin Kelly and Jan Schakowsky, joined Georgia rep John Lewis in his House floor sit-in advocating for gun control and demanding that Congress take legislative action on gun violence. [Sun-Times]
- State budget impasse puts HIV testing at the Center on Halsted in jeopardy
The seemingly never-ending Illinois budget impasse has been affecting nonprofits for months, and now it’s put free HIV testing at the Center on Halsted in jeopardy. The LGBTQ community center has been testing without funding for a year now, but it might not be able to continue much longer. Halting free HIV tests could have negative consequences for the community because there’s a “critical need” for them and more young adults are testing positive, according to a COH spokesman. [DNAinfo Chicago]
- City Council passes new Uber and Lyft regulations
After a contentious few months with ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft, the City Council passed new regulations for the industry that are less restrictive than those originally proposed. Drivers will now be required to go through a one-day chauffeur-licensing course, but the controversial fingerprint background-check proposal was dropped from the legislation. [Associated Press via ABC News]
- Bronzeville’s black-owned comedy club, Jokes and Notes, to close
The only comedy club in the city with a black owner is set to close Saturday because of financial issues. Jokes and Notes opened in Bronzeville 11 years ago, but the south-side neighborhood hasn’t changed enough to bring the foot traffic necessary to keep the club going, owner Mary Lindsey told DNAinfo Chicago. The club “bridged the gap between the north side and south side,” according to Lindsey, and the platform it gave local comedians like Cedric the Entertainer will be its legacy. [DNAinfo Chicago]