Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
- Report: Cook County judge murdered outside his home was previously beaten in road-rage incident
Cook County associate judge Raymond Myles was shot to death outside his home in the far-south-side West Chesterfield neighborhood early Monday morning. A 52-year-old woman whose relationship to Myles is still unclear was also shot in the leg and wounded. Law enforcement officers believe the shootings weren’t random and might have occurred in the course of an attempted robbery. Myles, 66, was also beaten in an “apparent road-rage incident” in 2016, according to the Sun-Times. “You have our word that we will not let Judge Myles’ life be lost in vain and we will hold his killer accountable,” Chicago Police Department first deputy superintendent Kevin Navarro told reporters. [Sun-Times] [DNAinfo Chicago]
- How the feds built their unprecedented case against Dennis Hastert
Former U.S. House speaker Dennis Hastert is one of the highest-ranking elected officials in American history ever to spend time in prison. The former wrestling coach and teacher at Yorkville High School was sentenced in April 2016 for allegedly paying hush money to cover up accusations that he sexually abused teenage boys on his wrestling team. FBI special agent Lisa Strong and special agent Joe Guest of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division spoke to the Sun-Times about their first interview with Hastert concerning the hush money, which took place at Hastert’s Plano home in December 2014. The FBI had Hastert on its “radar” even in 2012, according to the agents. “I think it’s important for everybody to understand that no one’s above the law,” Strong told the newspaper. “And it doesn’t matter if you happen to be a person who used to create the law. You’re not above the law.” [Sun-Times]
- Video of United Airlines dragging a passenger out of overbooked plane goes viral
A video of a passenger on an overbooked United Airlines flight from O’Hare International Airport to Louisville, Kentucky, being dragged off the plane by a security officer Sunday went viral within hours. The passenger was reportedly a doctor who needed to be on the flight in order to see patients in Louisville. The security officer has been suspended. “I apologize for having to reaccommodate these customers,” United CEO Oscar Munoz said in a statement Monday. “Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened.” [Tribune] [DNAinfo Chicago]
- Only 16 percent of CPS elementary school students were accepted into selective enrollment schools
Only 16 percent—1,868 students—of the almost 11,500 Chicago Public Schools elementary school students who applied to selective enrollment schools were accepted. The students, which ranged from kindergarten through eighth grade, were vying for spots at the “11 regional gifted centers, five classical schools or three regional gifted centers for English learners designed for academically advanced students,” according to DNAinfo Chicago. [DNAinfo Chicago]
- David Schwimmer produces PSAs against sexual harassment
Northwestern University alumnus, Lookingglass Theatre founder, and actor David Schwimmer has produced, along with director Sigal Avin, a six-part public service announcement against sexual harassment. Starring Schwimmer, Emmy Rossum, Cynthia Nixon and Bobby Cannavale, the series touches on sexual harassment in the workplace. “The current climate right now in this country . . . it feels like women and their advocates are fighting for basic human and civil rights,” he said. “Sigal and I thought, we need to explicitly state that sexual harassment and sexual assault is not permissible and also give a face to it.” [Upworthy]
- Production is starting on south-side-set drama The Chi
The stars of the upcoming Showtime drama The Chi, about life on the south side, are arriving in the city as filming begins. On Saturday actress Sonja Sohn posted a picture of herself with the show’s executive producers, rapper/actor Common and show creator Lena Waithe, with the caption “Chicago! We ’bout to TURN UP. Y’all. Are. Not. Ready. #staytuned#thechi @common @lenawaithe.” The show will follow the stories of about fictional south-side residents and will film in the city through September. [Tribune]