Judge rules Chicago cop must cover tatoo tribute to fallen soldiers
A Chicago police officer's tattoo is a form of personal expression that might be misinterpreted by the public, a federal judge said, tossing out the legal complaint of three officers who argued they shouldn't have to cover up their ink while on the job.
"For some, the Confederate flag signifies honor and valor, displayed in recognition of the many who gave their lives in defense of strongly held beliefs," U.S. District Judge Charles P. Kocoras wrote in his ruling. "For others, that same flag epitomizes the subjugation of an entire race of people and represents disobedience to the principle our nation holds dear, that all men are created equal."
Three current Chicago police officers filed suit in July, challenging a departmental rule that forces cops to cover up tattoos. One of the officers, Daniel Medici, has a tattoo of a halo and wings that honors fellow Marines who didn't make it back from Iraq.
Brookfield Zoo's giraffe Franny dies
A
24-year-old giraffe at the Brookfield Zoo died Wednesday after a battle with arthritis.
Franny, who had lived at the West suburban zoo since 1992, was euthanized after age-related degenerative arthritis "began to impact her daily comfort and quality of life," a statement on the zoo's website said.
She is survived by three calves, including Arnieta, who still resides at the zoo, as well as seven grand-calves who live at other North American zoos.
Giraffes typically live 13 to 25 years in the wild.
Spike Lee 'Chi-Raq' gets Dec. 4 release
Spike Lee's controversial "Chi-Raq" movie that's a satirical look at Chicago violence will be released Dec. 4 in some theaters, Lee confirmed on Instagram.
The movie, which is set on the South Side and based on the ancient Greek comedy "Lysistrata," is about women withholding sex to get their men to stop committing violence.
Lee drew backlash from Mayor Rahm Emanuel and some aldermen when he announced the title of the movie earlier this year.
Mayor rips Rauner's tax hike criticism
In an escalating war of words between two friends,
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Friday that
Gov. Bruce Rauner needed to "stop name-calling and just do your job" after Rauner blasted the mayor's historic property tax increase.
Emanuel's remarks came after Rauner's office said the mayor needs to get serious about reforms or become "just another tax-and-spend politician."
Emanuel responded: "I would just say this to the governor and the governor's office: You're 120 days behind budget, six billion dollars and counting in not paying bills. Stop name-calling and just do your job."
Union try by UC nontenured faculty
Nontenure-track faculty at the University of Chicago have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
They are requesting an election for a bargaining unit that would represent not only adjuncts, who work part time, but also full-timers. They would join a national movement that has sought better pay and job security for the nontenured faculty who make up the majority of the nation's higher education workforce.
Brown: No problems with hiring monitor
Nearly a week after Cook County Democratic Party leaders dropped support for Circuit Court Clerk
Dorothy Brown amid a federal corruption investigation, the longtime politician said she'd welcome a federal monitor to oversee her hiring processes.
"I have no problems with anyone looking over things that we do because we do them according to the law," Brown said on WTTW's "Chicago Tonight."
Brown also said she's seeking re-election despite losing the party's endorsement, insisting she's done nothing wrong.
• This week's City Briefing was collected in partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times. For complete versions of items, check chicago.suntimes.com.