Courtesy of JB for Governor

CHICAGO (AP) — Billionaire businessman J.B. Pritzker is launching the first television ads of the Democratic primary for Illinois governor.

Pritzker’s campaign is releasing a 60-second ad statewide on Tuesday.

The introductory ad is aimed at helping voters get to know Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune who doesn’t have the name recognition of some of his rivals, especially outside of Chicago. It covers Pritzker’s role starting the Chicago tech incubator 1871 and his work in support of early childhood education.

Other candidates who’ve said they’re seeking the Democratic nomination in March 2018 include businessman Chris Kennedy, state Sen. Daniel Biss and Chicago Alderman Ameya (a-MAY’-uh puh-WAHR’) Pawar.

A group affiliated with the Republican Governors Association has been running ads featuring GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner, who’s seeking a second term.

CONGRESS-PASSENGER REMOVED-THE LATEST

The Latest: Airline exec apologizes for stroller incident

WASHINGTON (AP) — An American Airlines executive is apologizing for an incident in which a male flight attendant upset a female passenger to the point of tears, then got into a heated confrontation with a male passenger who tried to come to the woman’s defense.

Kerry Philipovitch, a senior vice president of American, said the incident was improperly handled and is being investigated. Video of the incident has circulated widely on social media. Philipovitch told Congress Tuesday that the airline “should have helped” the passenger handle the extra-wide stroller and put it away safely.

The incident occurred April 21 on a flight from San Francisco to Dallas, two weeks after a passenger on a United Airlines flight was forcibly removed from a plane in Chicago.

The House Transportation Committee is examining U.S. air travel in the wake of the two incidents and others.

CONGRESS-PASSENGER REMOVED

United CEO faces questions as Congress examines air travel

WASHINGTON (AP) — United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz will be the star witness as Congress examines customer service by U.S. airlines and how air travel can be improved.

The hearing by the House Transportation Committee comes amid worldwide outrage sparked when a passenger was dragged off a United flight after refusing to give up his seat to a crew member. The April 9 incident ignited a debate about poor service and a lack of customer-friendly policies on U.S. airlines.

Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster said lawmakers want answers about customer-service policies and what is being done to improve service for the flying public.

United moved to head off criticism last week by reaching a settlement with passenger David Dao and issuing new policies designed to prevent customer-service failures.

UIS-FACULTY STRIKE

Professors walk picket lines at U of Illinois-Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Dozens of University of Illinois-Springfield protesters walked a picket line a day after their union announced a strike.

The University of Illinois Springfield United Faculty union represents nearly 170 tenured and tenure-track faculty members. They started their strike at 9 a.m. Tuesday, carrying signs that read “I’d rather be teaching.”

The strike comes during the final week of classes for the semester and the week before final exams. The union said in a message on its website that professors won’t be available to students during the strike.

University officials said on the school’s website that students should attend classes during a strike and wait 15 minutes before leaving if their professor isn’t present.

The union and university bargained on Monday. At issue are reappointment, tenure, and promotions.

OBAMA LIBRARY

Obamas to visit Chicago to discuss planned library, museum

CHICAGO (AP) — Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will visit Chicago for a community meeting to discuss their planned library and museum.

The Obama Foundation announced Monday the Obamas will host a round table discussion Wednesday to “update the community” on the progress of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side. The Obamas are also expected to hear from community members on their ideas for the library.

New York-based Ralph Appelbaum Associates will head a team of several firms and individuals with expertise in media, lighting and acoustics in designing exhibits.

The foundation has said almost half of the exhibition design work for the museum will be performed by minority- and women-owned businesses.

The project is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

NORTHWESTERN-WASHINGTON

Northwestern defensive end suspended after drug charge

(Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://chicago.suntimes.com/)

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Northwestern University says it has indefinitely suspended defensive end Xavier Washington after a drug arrest.

Evanston Police Commander Joe Dugan says officers called to a disturbance in Evanston on Sunday when they saw the 20-year-old at an intersection, stopped him, searched him and found he was carrying a half-gram of cocaine. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Washington faces a felony count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and records show he was released from jail and appeared in court Monday.

School officials say the university is investigating. Washington is from Cedar Hill, Texas. He started eight times last season, finishing with 38 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

Washington didn’t have a listed phone number in Evanston to pursue comment. He didn’t immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

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MAY DAY-US

Dozens arrested as May Day marches turn violent in Northwest

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — May Day protests turned violent in the Pacific Northwest as demonstrators in Portland, Oregon, threw smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails at police while elsewhere thousands of people peacefully marched against President Donald Trump’s immigration and labor policies.

From New England to the Midwest to the West Coast people chanted and picketed against Trump along with the traditional May Day labor rallies.

In Portland, Oregon, police shut down a protest they said had become a riot and arrested more than two dozen people. Police in Olympia, Washington, said nine people were taken into custody after several officers were injured by thrown rocks.

In Seattle, five people were arrested during downtown protests and in Oakland, California, at least four were arrested after creating a human chain to block a county building.

DEADLY ACCIDENT-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Sheriff: 3 killed in central Illinois single-vehicle crash

CANTON, Ill. (AP) — Authorities in central Illinois say three people were killed when a vehicle left a roadway and crashed into a lake.

The (Peoria) Journal Star reports that the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department says the accident happened Monday night southwest of the city of Canton. Police say a preliminary investigation found the vehicle was traveling on Route 5 when it veered off the right shoulder before crashing through grass and brush, rolling down an embankment and landing on its side in the water.

The identifications of the victims weren’t immediately released pending notification of relatives. Three other people in the vehicle were sent to nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident happened on a roadway just west of Spoon River College’s main campus. Canton is about 30 miles southwest of Peoria.