Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Thursday, November 8, 2017.
- Former president Barack Obama reports for Cook County jury duty
Former president Barack Obama reported for Cook County jury duty Wednesday but was not chosen to serve on a jury, according to the Tribune. Obama left his Kenwood home and arrived at the Daley Center around 10 AM to wait and see if his jury panel was selected. Daley Center staff and fellow prospective jurors were thrilled to see Obama in person. “He’s gorgeous!” court clerk Sonal Joshi said. It’s actually not that unusual: former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have also had to report for jury duty. [Tribune]
- Chance the Rapper slams Emanuel plan to build $95 million police training academy
Chance the Rapper appeared at the City Council meeting Wednesday to slam Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to build a new $95 million police training academy in West Garfield Park, according to the Tribune. Emanuel left before the Grammy Award-winning rapper spoke during the 30-minute public comment allotment. Chance urged the aldermen to use the money to build schools or help the mentally ill instead because “there’s a lot of ways to transform the city that don’t have anything to do with police training.” [Tribune]
- Chicago’s new FBI chief: “Be transparent, communicate, and collaborate’
Jeffrey Sallet is the new head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Chicago office, and some of his goals are to fight white collar crime, political corruption and decrease gun violence. “Honest government is not optional,” Sallet told WBEZ in an interview. “It’s something we will work vigorously to ensure is happening. And I can tell you, they’ve been doing it before I got here, and under my leadership it will be a major priority.” He’s served as the head of the FBI’s New Orleans office and worked on the counterterrorism investigations after 9/11 and the Boston Marathon bombing. “What have I learned? I’ve learned: Be transparent, communicate, and collaborate,” he said. “And that’s how we keep people safe.” [WBEZ]
- Illinois senate overrides Rauner’s veto of debt transparency bill
Illinois senate Democrats and Republicans came together Wednesday to override Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto of a debt transparency bill with a 52-3 vote. The bill, which will become law as the Illinois house of representatives already unanimously overrode Rauner’s veto, “requires state agencies to report monthly the amount of bills being held, liabilities that are being appropriated and liabilities that may have late interest penalties,” according to the Sun-Times. It’s also evidence that Rauner is losing support amongst Springfield Republicans. “This is another example of failed Governor Rauner’s alternate reality,” GOP state representative David McSweeney said after the House voted. “The governor lost 112-0 on the override—no Republicans voted against the override.” [Sun-Times]
- City commemorates the site of Lincoln’s 1860 GOP presidential nomination again
City officials have rededicated the historical markers on the site where Abraham Lincoln was nominated for president in 1860. Lincoln was named the Republican presidential nominee at the Wigwam, formerly located at Lake Street and Wacker Drive. The Daughters of the American Revolution gave the markers to the city in the 1900s, but they have been sitting in City Hall storage since the ’90s. “In May of 1860, Chicago hosted the first of its record 25 national presidential conventions at the Wigwam,” alderman Ed Burke said at the ceremony. “How different our modern world might be if not for the nomination of Abraham Lincoln here on this very site—at the Wigwam on May 18, 1860.” [Curbed Chicago]
- Pizza from a famous Brooklyn restaurant will be available in Pilsen this weekend
Fans of New York pizza will be excited to learn that slices from Roberta’s in Brooklyn will be available in Pilsen Saturday and Sunday. Dusek’s Board & Beer will be serving four different types of pizza from Roberta’s starting at 4 PM Saturday and from 11 AM until 4 PM Sunday. Roberta’s cofounder Brandon Hoy left the door open to a Chicago expansion. “Baby steps here, baby steps,” Hoy told Eater Chicago in an interview. “Let’s see how people like the pop-up first.” [Eater Chicago]