Welcome to the Reader‘s weekday news briefing. Have a great weekend!
- Potential mayoral candidate Paul Vallas strikes out at Emanuel
Former Chicago Public Schools chief executive officer Paul Vallas appears to be inching even closer to a mayoral run in 2019, as he “started Wednesday to make the case in earnest against re-electing Mayor Rahm Emanuel and suggested that Emanuel may have engineered [his] embarrassing exit from Chicago State University,” according to the Sun-Times. Emanuel should have addressed school funding reform and other fiscal issues when Pat Quinn was governor with a veto-proof Democratic majority in both houses of the Illinois General Assembly, according to Vallas. “The question is, who are you gonna trust to navigate the city through those troubled financial waters?” he asked. Vallas had already given the Chicago State University board of trustees his 60-day notice for the chief administrative officer job when they abruptly terminated his contract, eliminated the job, and accused him of using the position as a platform to run for mayor. “It is a little coincidental that one of the state reps who got $46,000 in campaign contributions from Rahm Emanuel the year before last should just suddenly wake up one morning and decide that Chicago State University is a major issue and send a letter to the president concerned about me running for office while I’m at Chicago State after I had already decided to resign and . . . simultaneously send it to the media,” Vallas told reporters Wednesday. He says he will likely run if he raises enough money and increases his name recognition. [Sun-Times]
- Ten years after the tragic Lane Bryant shooting, Tinley Park police release new image of suspect
Five women were shot and killed in a Tinley Park Lane Bryant on February 2, 2008, and the case remains unsolved. Tinley Park police have released a new composite image of the suspect created by the Michigan State Police “[utilizing] the latest in facial identification technology to provide a more life-like representation,” according to a statement. There is one investigator who still works full-time on the shooting with the help of another investigator who works on it half of the time. The suspect, who would now be between 35 to 45 years old (based on the 2008 estimate that he was between 25 and 35), is around six feet tall, with a husky build and broad shoulders. His voice was captured on the 911 call recording. [Sun-Times]
- Family of DACA recipient detained by ICE wonders why Cook County’s “sanctuary” ordinance did not work
Cook County’s sanctuary ordinance protecting undocumented immigrants should have prevented a “Dreamer” from being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the family of Christian Gomez Garcia protests. Garcia, a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, was at the Skokie Courthouse Monday for a hearing on a misdemeanor traffic violation when he was detained by agents in the lobby. He was then held in custody at the Kenosha County Detention Center till Thursday. “This is a victory, the Homeland Security is accepting that they have made a mistake and violated a federal court decision,” Reverend Jose Landaverde of Faith, Life and Hope Mission said of Garcia’s release. [Sun-Times]
- Englewood’s Amandla Charter School set to close at the end of the school year
Amandla Charter School in Englewood is set to close at the end of its school year in June, making it the fifth public high school in Englewood scheduled to close over the summer. Chicago Public Schools has already announced plans to close Harper High School, Robeson High School, TEAM Englewood, and Hope College Preparatory High School due to low enrollment. Amandla is voluntarily closing because of low enrollment and test scores. Jennifer Kirmes, its principal and chief executive officer, expressed her sadness for the loss of all Englewood schools. “Honestly, it’s heartbreaking, and deeply concerning, that so many school options are being taken away from the same group of people,” she told WBEZ. [WBEZ]
- Former Chicago Bear, broadcaster to launch chronic traumatic encephalopathy foundation
Former Chicago Bears running back and broadcaster Mike Adamle is opening up about his struggles with (suspected) chronic traumatic encephalopathy from football injuries. Adamle is launching a foundation in partnership with the Concussion Legacy Foundation to help others suffering from CTE, called the Mike Adamle Project: Rise Above. CTE can only officially be diagnosed in a post-mortem brain exam, but many people are suffering from the symptoms. CTE can develop in people who have never even played football. “Mike had so many people reach out, not just athletes or fans, but just everyday people reaching out and telling the same story—’I think I have this, I don’t know what to do,'” his wife, Kim, said. “So our mission now is to reach out and share what we have found out, share our journey to help everyone out there.” [NBC Chicago]
- Au Cheval is importing famous pastrami from New York for a specialty burger
Au Cheval is collaborating with New York City’s Katz’s Deli to combine Au Cheval’s famous burgers with Katz’s famous pastrami sandwiches. Available exclusively on February 15 and 16, the specialty burger will include the legendary pastrami, sharp American cheese, minced red onion, dill pickles, and dijonnaise, according to Eater Chicago. [Eater Chicago]