Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Thursday, July 28, 2016.
- Weather: A bit cooler, with a thunderstorm possible
Be prepared if you’re going to Lollapalooza: there’s a 60 percent chance of rain and/or a thunderstorm Thursday. It will be humid but not very hot, with a high of 81 and a low of 68. [AccuWeather]
- Obama reportedly chooses Jackson Park for his presidential library
President Barack Obama has reportedly chosen Jackson Park over Washington Park as the site for his presidential library, according to the Sun-Times. The 21-acre site in Jackson Park is near the lake and the Museum of Science and Industry. New York City and Hawaii were also in the running for the library, but the choices were narrowed down to Jackson Park and Washington Park in May 2015. The Obama Foundation is expected to make an official announcement in the “coming days,” according to DNAinfo Chicago. [Sun-Times] [DNAinfo Chicago]
- Report: Durbin to make a decision on the 2018 gubernatorial race after November election
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin will make a final decision on running for governor in 2018 after the upcoming November election, according to Politico. Many Illinois Democrats, including Illinois House speaker Mike Madigan, have been promoting Durbin as a great choice to run against Governor Bruce Rauner. The senator is currently focusing his attention and energy on the November presidential and Illinois senate races, he told reporters Monday. [Politico]
- Mothers of Sandra Bland and Hadiya Pendleton featured at the DNC
“Mothers of the Movement,” including the mothers of Sandra Bland, Hadiya Pendleton, and Trayvon Martin, were featured at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday evening. Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, spoke about the devastating loss of her daughter and her support for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. “I am here with Hillary Clinton tonight because she is a leader and a mother who will say our children’s names,” she said. “She knows that when a young black life is cut short it’s not just a loss.” [Mic]
- Dozens of Latin Kings gang members facing charges in federal sweep
Federal authorities are trying to take down the Latin Kings gang in Illinois and Indiana and have indicted more than 60 of its alleged members, according to the Sun-Times. “The cases are ultimately about one thing, and that is violence,” U.S. attorney Zachary Fardon said to reporters. “Gang violence. Gun violence. Senseless violence. The type of violence that plagues our communities, our neighborhoods, in Chicago and beyond.” [Sun-Times]
- Blagojevich will appear at resentencing hearing via video
Former governor Rod Blagojevich, in prison in Colorado, will not make the trip back to Chicago for his August 9 resentencing hearing. Blagojevich would rather have appeared in person, but logistics would make the trip too difficult, according to his attorney Leonard Goodman. [Associated Press via WBEZ]