Cops Hiring / Feds Sue Cubs / Konkol Column / Pitchfork Fest Begins

Nine years ago — after the Sandy Hook mass school shooting in Connecticut, —then House speaker Michael Madigan endorsed an assault weapon ban that got killed by a Democratic majority in the state senate.

Madigan did it again in 2018, but the Democratic majority in the senate didn't approve it.

In 2019, an assault weapon ban bill died in committee.

And earlier this year, a new assault weapon's ban proposal failed to get a single co-sponsor before being shelved.

After the Highland Park mass shooting on July 4th, Democrats starting lining up in support of an assault weapon ban again — even though it won't do much to combat the public health crisis of violence in our state.

As Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said as much in 2013: "Listen, assault weapons ban is a sexy discussion, and it's sexy for politicians to latch onto," but it won't change much about the shooting problems in urban areas from Chicago to East St. Louis.

Here we go again.

KONKOL COLUMN: Democrats Line Up To Support Assault Weapon Ban, Ignore Killer Poverty

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Thunderstorms. High: 81 Low: 72.

• The National, The Roots and Mitski are at the top of the bill at Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park this weekend. The fun starts today. Wear sunscreen. (Patch)
• Chicago is hiring new classes of police officers. In person entry exams start this month. (Patch)
• NBC5 has obtained a copy of the unpublished memoir "I Am More Than A Wolf Whistle" written by the woman who accused Emmett Til of whistling at her, leading to the boy's lynching in 1955. (NBC5)
• Federal prosecutors filed a lawsuit against the Cubs, accusing the team of making renovations to Wrigley Field that violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. The lawsuit accuses the Cubs of removing the best wheelchair seating in the stadium. (WGN9)
• Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the city's first-ever plan to address structural inequities, disinvestment and racist policies with an eye toward rebuilding poor, neglected communities. The 148-page "We Will Chicago" report is available to read online. (WBEZ)

For A Good Time, Click:

• Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park (Noon)
• Tacos Y Tamales Festival at 16th Street/Peoria (5 p.m.)
• Flight Facilities w/ Two Another at The Vic (9 p.m.)
• Train at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater (6:30 p.m.)
• Norah Jones at Northerly Island (8 p.m.)

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— Mark Konkol

About me: Mark Konkol, recipient of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting, wrote and produced the Peabody Award-winning series "Time: The Kalief Browder Story." He was a producer, writer and narrator for the "Chicagoland" docuseries on CNN and a consulting producer on the Showtime documentary "16 Shots."

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Daily? Contact me at mark.konkol@patch.com