Welcome to the Reader‘s morning briefing for Monday, March 27, 2017.
- Trump, Sessions, FOP president will meet to discuss gun violence
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 president Dean Angelo Sr. will meet with President Donald Trump, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and members of Trump’s staff in Washington, D.C., Tuesday to discuss gun violence in Chicago. “We could only assume the topic of Chicago crime might find its way on the agenda,” the union said in a statement to members regarding the meeting with Trump. “It may to include [sic] the necessity to impose a consent decree. To that point, President Angelo will carry the message of the working police to the White House in an attempt to ensure that your voices are not only heard but that our input toward any future federal supported solutions are seriously considered.” [Sun-Times]
- There won’t be limits on campaign donations in upcoming governor’s race after Kennedy donation
Businessman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy donated $250,100 to his own campaign fund, ending the limit on campaign donations for the 2018 Illinois gubernatorial race. If a candidate gives him- or herself more than $250,000 or an “outside independent expenditure group uses that amount of money to try to influence the outcome of an election,” the donation limit of $5,600 for individuals and $11,100 for unions and corporations is lifted in a statewide race, the Tribune reports. Governor Bruce Rauner put $50 million of his own money into his campaign, which didn’t lift the donation limit because it happened before 2017, and businessman and potential candidate J.B. Pritzker recently put $200,000 of his own money into his exploratory bid. “I don’t think this kind of tremendous amount of money from the very richest people in our state is what’s good for our state,” rival Democratic gubernatorial candidate Illinois state senator Daniel Biss said in an interview with WGN Radio. [Tribune]
- Study: CPD has dramatically reduced its stop-and-frisk procedures
The Chicago Police Department has reduced stop-and-frisk stops from more than 1.3 million in 2014 and 2015 to slightly more than 54,000 in the first half of 2016, according to a new report by former U.S. magistrate judge Arlander Keys. An agreement between the CPD and the American Civil Liberties Union in 2015 that requires officers to fill out paperwork for each stop they make was the reason for the dramatic drop. “We needed something to change. Those numbers just could not continue,” said Karen Sheley, director of the Police Practices Project at the ACLU of Illinois. [Associated Press via WBEZ]
- Cook County sheriff’s correctional officer training delayed for Jason Van Dyke’s wife
Tiffany Van Dyke, the wife of indicted former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, was hired to be a correctional officer for the Cook County sheriff’s office, but her training has been delayed due to safety concerns. “She has not been terminated,” policy director Cara Smith told the Sun-Times. “We are simply conducting a more in-depth background investigation, the goal of which is to ensure her employment in this position would not put her at risk.” Jason Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder in the 2014 shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, to which 16 counts of aggravated assault were added recently. “This is a very difficult environment in the jail, and one that poses safety risks for officers on a good day,” Smith said. “It’s our obligation to all of our employees to act in a way that ensures their safety, and we’re going to do that here.” [Sun-Times]
- Chance the Rapper visits Career Day at Courtenay Elementary school
Chance the Rapper surprised students at Courtenay Elementary in Uptown Friday by appearing at the school’s college and career fair. The students were thrilled to hear from the Grammy Award-winning rapper. “He spoke to all of us about his career and told us to stay in school,” 13-year-old student Joanne Tablas told DNAinfo Chicago. [DNAinfo Chicago]
- Starbucks will unveil new lunch offerings in Chicago stores
Coffee giant Starbucks will debut its new lunch menu, called Mercato, in more than 100 Chicago stores April 11. The menu will include salads and sandwiches, including a chicken-fig sandwich and a cauliflower tabbouleh salad. After debuting in Chicago, the new menu will roll out to Starbucks stores across the country. [Crain’s Chicago Business]