Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner gave his budged address on Wednesday. Rauner framed the state’s precarious financial situation as a choice for lawmakers this year: work with him on a long-term mix of budget cuts, tax hikes and his pro-business, union-weakening agenda — or steep cuts will have to be made. Chicago Tribune Columnist and Editorial Board Member Kristen McQueary joined John with reaction. (Listen here)
Apple stepped things up in their fight against the FBI during the day on Wednesday. CEO Tim Cook published an open letter to customers, saying the FBI’s actions as an “unprecedented step which threatens the security of our customers.” “The government suggests this tool could only be used once, on one phone,” Cook wrote. “But that’s simply not true. Once created, the technique could be used over and over again, on any number of devices.” Fred Cate the Director of the Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research at Indiana University joined John with reaction. (Listen here)
A group of civil rights attorneys and others has filed a court petition seeking to force Anita Alvarez to hand over the prosecution in the Laquan McDonald shooting. They say she has demonstrated reluctance to charge police officers and has close ties to the police officers’ union, creating a “conflict of interest.” Anita Alvarez says the petition is politically motivated. Chicago Tribune Court Reporter Jason Meisner has been covering the story and joined John to discuss the latest. (Listen here)
Northwest Side residents could be able to sleep soundly for up to a month at a time under a plan to rotate the O’Hare Airport runways used at night approved Tuesday by a special committee of the O’Hare Noise Commission. The rotation would include a diagonal runway on the west side of the airport until 2019, when it is slated to be demolished as part of the final phase of the airport expansion. Alderman Anthony Napolitano from the 41st Ward joined John with reaction to the changes. (Listen here)
When Beyoncé performed at the Super Bowl, Red Lobster probably wasn’t expecting a sales bump to result.The sit-down seafood restaurant got one anyway. The chain said sales were up 33% on Sunday over the previous year, thanks to a lyric in the new track that suggests using Red Lobster’s food as a reward for sex.
Spring training hasn’t even officially started yet and Cubs outfielder/catcher Kyle Schwarber already broke a car window in the parking lot. He reached out to Safelite on Twitter and asked if they could help the poor person out, they agreed and asked if they should be ready for more this season.
A Virginia woman ran behind the counter at her local Wendy’s and bit one of the employees. She’s being described as “hangry” because they got her order wrong. The employee had some bit marks but nothing too serious. The customer meanwhile has been charged with malicious wounding, intentionally damaging property and resisting arrest.
After NYC man loses wallet at a concert, he receives an envelope containing some of its contents along with a humorous note. The good Samaritan wrote: “I kept the cash because I needed weed, the metrocard because well the fare’s $2.75 now, and the wallet cause it’s kinda cool. Enjoy the rest of your day.”
