Lead-contaminated neighborhood | Most dangerous roads | Rite of spring in Chicago

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View In Browser May 8, 2018 chicagotribune.com Daywatch ADVERTISEMENT EPA discovers another lead-contaminated neighborhood near East Chicago Tuesday, May 8 Almost every time federal officials test a yard in northwest Indiana, they find staggering levels of brain-damaging lead in the soil. As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finishes digging up lead-contaminated yards in East Chicago this spring, testing reveals another toxic neighborhood nearby. Read More » New survey finds Chicago's most dangerous road for cyclists Bicyclists are injured or killed on this road in Chicago every year. A recent study looked at data from 34 cities across the U.S. with populations of at least 500,000 people, and found the most dangerous stretches of roads for bikes. Read More » 'We want to make our voices heard:' Women battle FDA over contraceptive device they say made them sick Tens of thousands of women across the state and country pleaded with doctors, legislators and the FDA to take Essure off the market after suffering from debilitating side effects they said were caused by the permanent contraceptive device. Read More » ADVERTISEMENT Architect of defunct-Chicago Spire thinking smaller this time The architect of the unbuilt Chicago Spire, the proposed twisting skyscraper that captivated the city a decade ago before going bust, will get a chance to leave his mark on Chicago, but on a much smaller scale. Read More » Abe Conlon of Fat Rice only Chicago chef to win a 2018 James Beard Award Chicago chefs were nominated for many categories at the annual James Beard Awards — but it was a very quiet night for the hometown crowd. Read More » Iran president warns of 'problems' as Trump decision looms Iran's president warned the country could face "some problems" ahead of President Donald Trump's decision on whether to pull out of its nuclear deal with world powers. Read More » ADVERTISEMENT Column: Shootings are a rite of spring in Chicago Dahleen Glanton: With warmer weather and the first signs of spring in Chicago comes more shootings and violence on the streets. Read More » Ray Szmanda, enthusiastic TV pitchman known as 'The Menards Guy,' dies at 91 Ray Szmanda was featured in advertising for Wisconsin-based home improvement chain Menards starting in 1976 until his retirement in 1998. Read More » advertisement Unsubscribe   |   Newsletters   |   Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Service Copyright © 2018 | Chicago Tribune | 435 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this email because you are following the Daywatch newsletter.

Debate over decades-old Equal Rights Amendment will continue in Illinois this month

Catch up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield.

View In Browser May 8, 2018 chicagotribune.com Morning Spin Topspin Abortion, military service and racial inequality could remain at the center of debate over whether Illinois lawmakers should ratify the decades-old Equal Rights Amendment in the coming weeks. Those issues were on display at a four-hour Illinois House committee hearing in Chicago on Monday, more than 35 years after the 1982 deadline for states to pass the constitutional amendment designed to protect citizens against sex-based discrimination. Backers are trying to capitalize on momentum from the #MeToo movement and say Congress can extend the deadline for the amendment if enough states eventually approve it. They point to job discrimination, health insurance costs and access to college education as present-day issues the amendment is meant to resolve. Opponents, though, contend those federal protections already exist for women. Anti-abortion activists were the most vocal in Monday's hearing. They view the Equal Rights Amendment as a vehicle for putting abortion protections into the U.S. Constitution. Critics also question what the role of women would be in the military in the event of a draft. Democratic state Rep. Lou Lang of Skokie pushed back on that idea, saying the accusation "insults me to my core" and the amendment is "about giving everyone equal rights." Lang needs 71 votes to get the amendment approved by the House, meaning he'll need both Democrats and Republicans to back it. While Lang has noted conservative opposition, some Democrats don't like it either. So the issue may be more complicated than traditional partisan differences. Democratic state Rep. Mary Flowers of Chicago repeatedly questioned whether the amendment would go far enough to protect minorities, citing racial discrimination during the Jim Crow era as an example of historic evidence when federal protections fell short. She said "the same enforcers" would still be in power if the amendment is approved. "Where's the proof?" Flowers asked. "Where's the proof that things are going to be better? Where's the humanity that we're all human and we all deserve equal protection under the law?" Illinois lawmakers have tried to pass the amendment in the past, but it's never gotten out of both chambers in the same year. The state Senate cleared it last month. (Bill Lukitsch) What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel will announce a high school renovation project early in the morning, then later have a street light modernization event. *Gov. Bruce Rauner will attend a memorial service at the Capitol for fallen firefighters, then attend a Springfield event about Illinois' new Frank Lloyd Wright trail. He will meet with legislative leaders about the budget behind closed doors. *The Illinois House and Senate are in session for their first day of the week. *Cook County Clerk David Orr will have a lottery to pick which order parties appear on the November ballot. *Indiana's primary election is today, and its Republican U.S. Senate primary is being watched closely. From the notebook *Quick spin: U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez revealed that he'll again co-chair Emanuel's re-election campaign. ... The Illinois State Fire Marshal's office unveiled an anti-arson public service announcement headlined: "Be Aware. Arson Ain't Cool." What we're writing *Lightfoot resigns from Police Board, clearing path for possible mayoral run. *Rauner backs his hand-picked Republican Party chairman for re-election as leadership battle brews. *Gutierrez seeks to tap progressive zeitgeist in aldermanic campaign launch against Emanuel ally. *Wilson Frost remembered:"'He should've been Chicago's first black mayor." *Big demand for Chicago's new municipal IDs surprises officials. *Lakefront Trail bike/pedestrian separation going forward, but Uptown changes draw criticism. What we're reading *Chicago sees its most violent week of the year: 9 killed, 76 wounded. *Architect of defunct-Chicago Spire to design riverfront sculpture. *After disastrous debut, "Pokemon Go" Fest returns to Chicago this summer. Follow the money *Republican attorney general candidate Erika Harold reported $100,000 from the Illinois Republican Party. *Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here. Beyond Chicago *Trump to announce Iran decision on Tuesday. *New York AG resigns hours after being accused of sexual assault. *Melania Trump agenda to focus on young people and social media. *Hatch says McCain should invite Trump to his funeral. *Oliver North is new NRA president.  Unsubscribe   |   Newsletters   |   Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Service Copyright © 2018 | Chicago Tribune | 435 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this email because you are following the Morning Spin newsletter.