Big John Howell Show Notes 3-31-16

We’re down to the finals in Media Madness 2016!

The Chicago Teachers Union has released details of how it will conduct a citywide walkout and rallies this week to call attention to school funding and contract negotiations. Union officials say union members will picket at every school Friday. Meanwhile, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is saying that the kids are the ones being hurt the most by the one-day strike. Karen Lewis the President of the Chicago Teacher’s Union joined John to talk about the upcoming one day strike, and reacted to John’s interview with CPS President . (Listen here)

Trump tells MSNBC Town Hall that abortion should be outlawed and women who have them should be punished. Meanwhile, polls in Wisconsin show Ted Cruz leading, and it’s beginning to look more and more like Trump will not have enough delegates to win the Republican nomination outright in the first ballot at the Convention in Cleveland. Sean Trende the Senior Elections Analyst for Real Clear Politics joined John to crunch the numbers. (Listen here)

A longtime Chicago Police veteran became the embattled department’s new interim police superintendent on Monday. Those who know and have worked with Eddie Johnson, formerly the chief of patrol, called him a listener who is fair but firm. And despite Johnson not being on thes hort list of names the Police Board recommended, everyone agrees that he must get to work, and get to work immediately, addressing problems in a city shaken by violent crime and deep-seated distrust of law enforcement. ABC 7 Political Analyst and Chicago Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington joined John to with reaction to the Eddie Johnson pick. (Listen here)

A former homeless man has paid forward the good deed of two Illinois residents by donating $10,000 to their former high school. Dan Kaiser, the principal of Dwight Township High School in Dwight joined John to share the story behind the donation. (Listen here)

You think it was a mess at O’Hare on a normal day? The baggage handlers and custodians are set to go on strike overnight.

Rahm Emanuel has recovered somewhat from the political firestorm surrounding the Laquan McDonald shooting. Now he is dealing with a Chicago teen who has challenged him to a sword fight.

The NFL is expanding their draft celebration in Chicago since it was so successful last year. This year they’ll have a 120-foot-tall Ferris wheel between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive, an area showcasing the College Football Hall of Fame, and they’ll move the center of Draft Town toward Buckingham Fountain.

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced they’ll hear Drew Peterson’s appeal. They are fighting the use of hearsay statements in his trial.