Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Wednesday, July 13, 2016.
- Weather: Another hot day with severe storms possible
Chicago won’t get a break from the heat and humidity Wednesday with a high of 88 and a low of 73. Severe storms are possible during the day and evening. [AccuWeather]
- Donald Trump returns to Chicago, raises a lot of money, and avoids protesters
Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump returned to Chicago Tuesday for his first campaign visit since his infamous canceled UIC Pavilion rally in March. A lunch fundraiser was expected to raise more than $1 million for Trump’s campaign. Activists gathered near the Trump Tower before and during the fundraising lunch to protest his controversial campaign rhetoric. Community leaders, including City Clerk Susana Mendoza and former mayoral candidate and Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, spoke at the rally. [Sun-Times] [Crain’s Chicago Business]
- Blagojevich started a band in prison and might appear in court next month
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from former governor Rod Blagojevich, who’s been in prison for four years. But he might make a rare court appearance in August for resentencing. Blagojevich’s lawyers, who have been fighting his 14-year prison sentence, shed some light into his life behind bars. The former Celebrity Apprentice contestant was in a band called “The Jailhouse Rockers” (which sadly broke up when his bandmate got out of jail) and has taught Civil War and World War II history. [Sun-Times]
- Imagining the global media spotlight during a 2016 Summer Olympics in Chicago
Chicago’s failed 2016 Olympic bid may seem like a distant memory, and the winning city, Rio de Janeiro, has been plagued by crises ranging from the Zika virus to political instability to rampant crime. Vice Sports has imagined a very cynical alternate reality in which Chicago was selected to host the upcoming games, and the global media starts picking apart all of Chicago’s problems from its violence epidemic to police brutality issues to corrupt politicians to a deep fiscal crisis and the discovery of lead in the drinking water at public schools. At least there’s no Zika. [Vice]
- Massive Pokémon Go meetup planned for Millennium Park
App Pokémon Go is quickly conquering the world as users virtually search their surroundings for Pokémon. Now thousands of fans are planning to attend game meetup at the Bean in Millennium Park Sunday afternoon. Organized on Facebook by Little Village resident Sam Guerrero, the attendees are asked to wear something Pokémon-related if possible. [DNAinfo Chicago]