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2018年12月31日 星期一

Happy 2019 and other news from The Spin.

A quick take on what's happening in local politics, delivered weekday afternoons.

Chicago Tribune

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December 31, 2018

chicagotribune.com

THE SPIN

Happy New Year. The first few weeks of 2019 will be busy ones, so approach tonight's parties accordingly.
The new Congress gets sworn in Thursday. The 101st class of state lawmakers takes the oath in Springfield on Jan. 9. And Democratic Gov-elect J.B. Pritzker takes over Jan. 14.
But first, the state has more than 250 new state laws taking effect in a few hours.
Welcome to The Spin.

1

Resolve to not break the law

From the Tribune's Mike Riopell: "Some take on serious issues such as the safety of children, sexual harassment or synthetic marijuana that led to multiple deaths in 2018. Another abolishes a task force on farmers markets that hasn't met in two years."

"In all, more than 250 new state laws take effect Jan. 1. The final batch of new laws imposed under outgoing Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner run the gamut from technical corrections in laws that will have little effect on people's daily lives to requiring parents of young children to keep them in rear-facing car seats longer." Learn more about them here.

2

Looking back at 2018

One of those new laws requires children to ride in rear-facing car seats until they're 2 years old, weigh 40 pounds or are 40 inches tall, making recommendations from child-safety advocates into Illinois law. Full story.

3

Ja'Mal Green drops bid for Chicago mayor

From Gregory Pratt: "Black Lives Matter activist Ja'Mal Green announced Monday he's dropping out of the Chicago mayoral race, which will bring the official count of candidates to 17. Green had filed a motion to withdraw and also to pursue a write-in candidacy last week, a Chicago Board of Elections spokesman said. But at a news conference Monday, Green said he's dropping out and hasn't yet decided who he will endorse." Read the full story here.

4

Chicago violence down again

From the Tribune's Rosemary Sobol and Hannah Leone: "For the second year in a row, the number of homicides and shootings in Chicago dropped by double-digit percentages in 2018, though some neighborhoods on the West and South sides continue to bear the brunt of gun violence as they have for decades."

"Homicides dropped by 15 percent, shootings by 18 percent, according to data kept by the Tribune. That continues a trend from 2016, when violence reached levels not seen since the 1990s." Here's the full story.

"Are we where we want to be? Of course not," Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told the Tribune. He attributed the progress over the last year to improved technology, more federal involvement in investigations of gun crimes and continued efforts to rebuild community trust.

Meanwhile, Chicago homicide "clearance rates have fallen to embarrassing lows, some 20 points below national averages and far beneath other big cities such as New York and Los Angeles." Read the full story from the Tribune's Annie Sweeney and Jeremy Gorner here.

5

Bears bets?

The Bears' upcoming playoff appearance against the Philadelphia Eagles will give leaders in each city a chance to partake in the most tired of sports and political traditions: Wagering on the outcome by betting local favorites.

Maybe this won't get going until either team makes it deeper in the playoffs. But let's get in front of this: We don't want to win a cheesesteak in a bet. Our beef sandwiches here are plenty good, thanks.

In the meantime, here are 10 takeaways from Sunday's Bears win from the Tribune's Brad Biggs.

6

Odds and ends

* Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren moves closer to running for president in 2020.

* Chicago is getting a big new fireworks display for New Year's Eve. Here's where to watch it.

* Here's what will mess with your commute in 2019.

 

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