Welcome to the Reader’s morning briefing for Thursday, December 1, 2016.
- Weather: Windy, with rain possible
Thursday will be cool again, with a high of 43 and a low of 35. It will be cloudy and windy, with a decent chance of rain in the afternoon. [AccuWeather]
- Trump slates Todd Ricketts for number two Commerce spot
President-elect Donald Trump has picked a Cubs scion for his cabinet, hailing Todd Ricketts—who has a BA in economics from Loyola and owns the Wilmette bike shop Higher Gear—as “an immensely successful businessman with unparalleled knowledge of the finance industry.” Initially a supporter of Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, Ricketts pivoted as the Republican primaries tilted toward Trump, eventually becoming an at-large delegate for the candidate at the RNC. Among other positions, he has served as CEO for the super PAC Ending Spending, founded by his father, Joe. [Sun-Times] [Tribune]
- New York Times reporters reflect on covering Chicago’s violence over Memorial Day weekend
In an article for the New York Times‘s Times Insider feature, a team of Chicago- and New York-based reporters for the paper reflect on their time covering on the gun violence in Chicago over the notoriously bloody Memorial Day weekend, during which 69 people were shot. The team, which has already published moving chronicles of victims Precious Land and Veronica Lopez, promises that more stories will be forthcoming: “That weekend, we went wide. . . . Since then, we’ve gone deep. Taken together, we hope the work will help people better understand why this violence is occurring and what needs to happen to end it.” [New York Times]
- Former mayor Richard M. Daley may yet be forced to testify about torture under his watch
Twice before, when ordered to give sworn depositions in cases involving claims of police torture, former mayor Richard M. Daley was spared after the city quickly settled. Now he may have to give sworn testimony in a lawsuit that accuses him of ignoring evidence of abuse by disgraced former police commander Jon Burge. On Tuesday, district court judge Amy St. Eve ruled that charges leveled by defense attorney Flint Taylor “sufficiently allege that Daley, as Chicago’s mayor, participated in a conspiracy to conceal evidence of police torture. [ Tribune]
- Off Color Brewing adding a taproom near Old Town, Goose Island in 2017
Hermosa-based Off Color Brewing is planning to open a taproom at 1460 N. Kingsbury in 2017. In addition to the added room for beer production, the new space should hold around 150 to 180 customers inside. The spot was chosen for its central location between Old Town and Goose Island, co-owner Jeff Laffler told DNAinfo Chicago. The craft brewery will keep its original brewery and bottle shop at 3925 W. Dickens when the taproom opens. [DNAinfo Chicago]