By Steve Rhodes

“The Chicago race riot of 1919 was a major racial conflict that began in Chicago, Illinois on July 27, 1919 and ended on August 3,” a heavily footnoted and sourced Wikipedia entry says.
“During the riot, thirty-eight people died and over five hundred were injured. It is considered the worst of the approximately 25 riots during the Red Summer, so named because of the violence and fatalities across the nation.The combination of prolonged arson, looting, and murder was the worst race rioting in the history of Illinois.”

Read More

Posted on April 28, 2015

By Steve Rhodes

“A new political fund aimed at helping Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner push his agenda has received its first cash infusion: $4 million from Chicago billionaire Sam Zell,” the Tribune reports.
So all of Illinois’ villains are joining together to defeat humanity.

Read More

Posted on April 27, 2015

By Natasha Julius

You could not clean a lot of schools for $800,000.
Market Update
Whatever they pay a state’s attorney, it’s not enough.

Read More

Posted on April 25, 2015

By Steve Rhodes

Just posted The Beachwood Radio Sports Hour #48: Bulls vs. Blackhawks, so I’m gonna call it a day and skip the column. It’s a pretty entertaining one.
The theme might be Reversal of Fortunes. Segments include: The Network Hockey League; Shark Tank; Cubs Make A Shit Ton Of Money; Jackie Robinson Left; and Mock Draft 5.0!

Read More

Posted on April 24, 2015

By Steve Rhodes

“Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez was accused Wednesday of deliberately charging a now-acquitted Chicago Police detective with involuntary manslaughter instead of first-degree murder to ‘curry favor with’ the Fraternal Order of Police,” the Sun-Times reports.
“Flamboyant criminal defense attorney Sam Adam Jr. said the rare directed verdict of acquittal that abruptly ended the trial of Dante Servin makes Adam more likely than ever to challenge Alvarez in the 2016 Democratic primary.”
The idea of Sam Adam Jr. as the state’s attorney strikes me as something of a joke. I’m not sure I find credible anything he has to say on this and most other topics, but let’s keep reading.

Read More

Posted on April 23, 2015

By Steve Rhodes

Let’s follow up Tuesday’s post about the ruling in the Rekia Boyd case with a look at the coverage of the last 24 hours, and then – burying the lede – my impromptu Twitter “conversation” with one of police officer Dante Servin’s attorneys last night.
*
“Cook County prosecutors on Tuesday staunchly defended their charging decisions of a Chicago police detective for a fatal off-duty shooting after a judge abruptly acquitted the officer Monday moments before the defense was to put on its evidence,” the Tribune reports.

Read More

Posted on April 22, 2015

By Steve Rhodes

Seconds before Cook County Judge Dennis Porter announced his decision Monday to dismiss charges against a Chicago police officer in the Rekia Boyd case, he warned those in the courtroom that “This is a court of law, not a court of emotion.”
If anyone there couldn’t handle that, he said, “It might be a good time to leave.”
And then he proceeded to betray all kinds of emotion as he read his ruling:

Porter was clearly ticked off. But at who? Was he disgusted with the prosecution for bringing the case in the first place – in which case his flip of the pages and hurried-as-if-he-can’t-be-bothered departure from the bench were the heartless actions of a first-class jerk? Or was he disgusted with the prosecution (is that who he glared at?) for undercharging the case and tying his hands?

Read More

Posted on April 21, 2015

By Steve Rhodes

No Papers column today, but please enjoy these other fine offerings!

Read More

Posted on April 20, 2015

By Steve Rhodes

“Federal corruption investigators looking into a $20.5 million no-bid contract at Chicago Public Schools also have asked for any records related to an elite nonprofit education group that has long been at the center of city school reform efforts – the first indication that the public relations problem could extend beyond Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration,” the Tribune reports.
This is interesting and potentially significant, but the “public relations problem?” Is that what this is? How about “the criminal probe?”

Read More

Posted on April 18, 2015

By Steve Rhodes

Here’s a free idea for anyone out there with a lonesome guitar and harp: The Ballad of Barbara Byrd-Bennett.
*
From her time in Cleveland:

Read More

Posted on April 17, 2015