Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Wednesday, February 10, 2016.
- Weather: No snow, bitter cold, but partly sunny
At least there won’t be any snow, but it will be cold, with a high of 17 and a low of 12. It will be partly sunny. [AccuWeather]
- Father of woman fatally shot warned her of Chicago’s violence problems
Aaren O’Connor, 25, was sitting in her car on the 2100 block of West 21st Street and talking to her sister on the phone when she was shot dead by a stray bullet on Friday. She had recently moved to Chicago from California, something her father had opposed because of the city’s well-known gun violence epidemic. [ABC7 Chicago]
- Protesters ask City Hall to spend TIF money on schools
Activists took to City Hall on Tuesday to call on members of the City Council’s budget committee to use $1.8 billion in tax increment financing (TIF) money on the struggling Chicago Public Schools. Thirty-four aldermen support the proposal. [WGN]
- Which Illinois counties are losing population?
Illinois residents have been fleeing the state—we’re even in danger of losing a congressional seat because of declining population. Winnebago County (best known for Rockford) has lost the most people. Counties with state universities (Champaign, McLean, and Sangamon) are an exception to the trend, with growing populations. [Chicago magazine]
- It’s hard to believe, but Chicago used to have rifle ranges
The University of Chicago, the ComEd building, the Chicago Armory, and the Madison Street Armory all used to have shooting ranges. Now there isn’t a shooting range in the city that’s open to the public. WBEZ looks into the history of the ranges and why they no longer exist. [WBEZ]
- Bulls’ Pau Gasol will replace Jimmy Butler in NBA All-Star Game
Unfortunately, fan favorite Jimmy Butler is out for about three to four weeks with a knee injury, and he’s losing his spot as an Eastern Conference reserve in the upcoming All-Star Game. Pau Gasol, another Bulls favorite, was chosen by the NBA to replace Butler. [CBS Sports]