Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Tuesday, June 27, 2017.
- Madigan sends Rauner a wish list of demands required for budget deal
Illinois house speaker Mike Madigan has created a list of demands for a deal that would end nearly two-year state budget impasse. Madigan introduced his wish list of prerequisites for a budget deal in a closed door meeting with senate president John Cullerton, senate Republican leader Christine Radogno, and Republican house minority leader Jim Durkin. It was the first time that the four legislative leaders had been in a room with each other for several months. The demands include: Governor Bruce “Rauner’s approval of a bill to regulate rates set by workers’ compensation insurance companies as well as increased oversight over the administration’s effort to overhaul the state’s Medicaid managed care program that provides health coverage for the poor” and “Rauner’s signature on legislation to overhaul how the state doles out money to schools, a bill the governor has vowed to veto, saying it amounts to a bailout for Chicago Public Schools,” according to the Tribune. [Tribune]
- Federal government sends Chicago new crime-fighting resources
President Donald Trump promised to “send in the feds” to fight gun violence in Chicago six months ago, and they have finally arrived, according to DNAinfo Chicago. The U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is sending a ballistics testing van that will travel to crimes scenes to immediately test bullets. The van will allow the Chicago Police Department “to develop suspect leads within hours and increases the likelihood of arrest during the early, critical stages of an investigation,” according to a statement from Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office. [DNAinfo Chicago]
- A tour of DuSable Museum of African American History is now required for Chicago police recruits
New Chicago Police Department recruits will be required to tour the DuSable Museum of African American History in Washington Park. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPD superintendent Eddie Johnson visited the museum with 56 new recruits Monday. “This is also part of that training and part of that training is being aware that we are a diverse city,” Emanuel told the recruits. A visit to the Illinois Holocaust Museum was already required for all new officers. [DNAinfo Chicago]
- Illinois Catholic bishop denies communion, last rites, and funeral rites to same-sex couples
A Catholic bishop based in central Illinois is banning communion, last rites, and funeral rites for same-sex couples in his diocese. Springfield-based bishop Thomas Paprocki sent the decree to priests and staff in the diocese prohibiting members from conducting same-sex weddings or hosting same-sex weddings at Catholic facilities. They can also not be given Catholic funerals “unless they have given some signs of repentance before their death.” [WBEZ]
- Fears of deportation discourage immigrant women from reporting domestic violence
Domestic violence victims are becoming increasingly scared to report abuse if they are immigrants, according to the Tribune. President Donald Trump’s threats to deport more undocumented immigrants have many immigrants so worried about deportation that they do not want to call authorities to report violence, according to lawyers and advocates. “A lot of clients are afraid to come to the courthouse and have to choose if they want to proceed with their court cases,” Ginger Devaney, a staff attorney with Chicago’s Domestic Violence Legal Clinic, told the Tribune. “They could have a chance of getting a (special) visa but risk being detained at the courthouse.” [Tribune]
- Michelle Obama honors fellow south-side native Chance the Rapper at the BET Awards
Former first lady Michelle Obama honored fellow south-side native Chance the Rapper with a video tribute at the BET Awards Sunday night. The Grammy Award-winning rapper was presented the Humanitarian Award during the ceremony. “Chance is showing our young people that they matter,” she said in the taped statement. “Because of you, countless young people will grow up believing in themselves.” Obama has known Chance “since he was a baby rapper.” [Associated Press via Sun-Times]