Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Tuesday, November 15, 2016.
- Not much change in the weather
The weather Tuesday will be very similar to Monday’s, with a high of 59 and a low of 44. It will be partly sunny. [AccuWeather]
- Calls to suicide prevention and other crisis hotlines have reportedly quadrupled in Illinois since Trump’s victory
Illinois is in the midst of a “public health crisis” due to the election of Donald Trump last week, Lurie Children’s Hospital president Patrick Magoon said at a press conference Monday. Calls to suicide prevention and crisis hotlines have risen dramatically—by “200 percent”—according to Magoon. The election has caused many Chicagoans “significant distress and anxiety,” he said. [DNAinfo Chicago]
- Madigan turns down postelection meeting with Rauner, Cullerton because of “schedule conflict”
Following a contentious general election, Governor Bruce Rauner is trying to schedule a meeting with Illinois house speaker Michael Madigan and senate president John Cullerton, both Democrats, and their legislative counterparts across the aisle. But Madigan declined Rauner’s invitation late Sunday, claiming a scheduling conflict. Cullerton says he’s looking forward to meeting with Republican leaders, but is waiting for a time when Madigan can attend. [Sun-Times]
- Father Pfleger speaks out on the bright side of a Trump win, haters, and more
In a short but revealing interview with Chicago magazine, longtime antiviolence activist Father Michael Pfleger sounds off on everything from the recent presidential election to making “people uncomfortable with the status quo.” He even sees a bright spot regarding president-elect Donald Trump: “He rallied the worst elements of America in terms of racism, prejudice, supremacy, and arrogance. But at the same time, it was a tremendous gift: We want to somehow pretend that this America is not there, but now we can see,” he said. [Chicago magazine]
- Artist raising money for Michelle Obama mural outside her elementary school
Chicago-based artist Chris Devins is hoping to raise $5,000 to install a photo mural of Michelle Obama on the outside of the elementary school the first lady attended, Bouchet, at 7355 S. Jeffery. “What I like about that is that people, and the little girls in the neighborhood, will literally be looking up to this lady,” he told DNAinfo Chicago. Devins has previously installed photo murals around the city of rapper Common, Pullman porters, Louis Armstrong, and others. [DNAinfo Chicago]