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☆ Walmart's plan to abruptly close 4 Chicago stores slammed as 'unethical' and 'unceremoniously abandoning these neighborhoods'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Ben Tobin | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Walmart announced this week that it is closing four stores in Chicago in a matter of days. Elected officials said that the decision to close the stores "worsens food deserts" in the area. In a rare press release on April 11 announcing store closures, Walmart said bluntly that these stores "have not been profitable since we opened the first one nearly 17 years ago." "Walmart's decision to close four stores in predominantly Black and Brown communities not only worsens food deserts, but will also increase grocery costs for families." The four Walmart stores closing in Chicago

☆ You Can’t Throw the Bums Out if You’ve Voted With Your Feet
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Allysia Finley | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

There’s a great deal of ruin in a nation, as Adam Smith once observed. Brandon Johnson ’s victory in last week’s Chicago mayoral race is a reminder that no matter how bad things get, they can always get worse. Its high crime and taxes are driving away businesses like Citadel, Boeing and Tyson Foods. Despite some of the highest property taxes in the country, its pension funds are in a death spiral. A net 175,000 people left Cook County between 2020 and 2022.

☆ Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson Pledges Unity in Divided City
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( Joe Barrett | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/chicago-mayor-elect-brandon-johnson-pledges-unity-in-a-divided-city-6b3808cd

☆ Chicago Gets What It Voted For
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson is off to a running start. The hyper-progressive is fulfilling every expectation that he’ll drive even more people and businesses out of the Windy City. Two days after narrowly winning the election, Mr. Johnson thought it a good moment to blame the city’s crime wave on business. “Seventy percent of large corporations in the state of Illinois did not pay a corporate tax,” Mr. Johnson told CBS . “And it’s that kind of restraint on our budget that has caused the type of disinvestment that has led to poverty of course that has led to violence.”

☆ Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson Pledges Unity in a Divided City
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Joe Barrett | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Trump keeps claiming his legal troubles will mobilize Republican voters. Those votes haven't materialized yet.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

And each time, experts and those close to Trump have predicted the proceedings could energize his supporters and the Republican base. Following the proceedings, former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale predicted the impeachment would lead to a high Republican turnout in the 2020 presidential election. "Any time people try to lessen this legitimate president, in any way, his voters fight back," Parscale said in December 2019. Prior to the 2022 election, Republicans and pollsters repeatedly predicted the election would result in a "Red Wave," or a GOP landslide victory. Despite repeated predictions and warnings that prosecuting the former president would invigorate his base in upcoming elections, investigations against Trump simply haven't energized his base as expected.

☆ The Left Wins Big in Midwest Elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Progressives had a banner day in the Midwest Tuesday, with victories for Chicago mayor and a swing seat on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court. The results will energize the left within the Democratic Party, and the Badger State results are a five-alarm warning to Republicans about 2024. The Chicago runoff was a battle between the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party, and the left won despite public frustration over rising crime and failing schools. Brandon Johnson ’s victory means the city’s decline as a laboratory for progressive governance will continue, and more companies will consider following the recent exits of Caterpillar, Boeing and Citadel.

☆ Chicago elects Brandon Johnson as next mayor
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Reuters Editorial | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PoliticsChicago elects Brandon Johnson as next mayorPostedBrandon Johnson was elected Chicago mayor on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press, defeating Paul Vallas in a runoff between two Democrats to take over a city grappling with crime, an issue that dominated the race. This report produced by Freddie Joyner.

[1/2] Cook County commissioner and mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson campaigns a day ahead of the runoff election in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. April 3, 2023. REUTERS/Jim VondruskaCHICAGO, April 4 (Reuters) - Brandon Johnson was elected Chicago mayor on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press, defeating Paul Vallas in a runoff between two Democrats to take over a city grappling with crime, an issue that dominated the race. Johnson, a 47-year-old Cook County Commissioner, becomes the 57th mayor of the third-largest U.S. city, after incumbent Lori Lightfoot was eliminated from the race in February. Vallas called for more police officers, while Johnson suggested more mental health support and opportunities for young people. Johnson, a former Chicago teacher and union organizer, says he will promote 200 new detectives from the existing pool of police officers.

☆ Brandon Johnson Defeats Paul Vallas to Become Chicago Mayor
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Joe Barrett | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

CHICAGO—Brandon Johnson, a Cook County Board commissioner with strong backing from the Chicago Teachers Union, pulled an upset victory over former schools chief Paul Vallas to become mayor of the nation’s third-largest city after a contentious race focused on public safety. Mr. Vallas had been ahead in recent polls and came in first in the initial round of voting in February. Mr. Johnson had come in second, squeezing out Mayor Lori Lightfoot , who came in third and didn’t make the runoff.

☆ Chicago mayoral election live results: Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas face off in runoff election
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas are facing off in the Chicago mayoral runoff election. The winning candidate will succeed Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was the third-place finisher in the initial Feb. 28 mayoral election behind Vallas and Johnson, respectively, missing her chance to compete in the runoff. Garcia came in fourth place in the February mayoral election; in 2015, he was also a mayoral candidate, forcing then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel into a runoff election, which he eventually lost. According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, Vallas raised $6.4 million in the lead-up to the initial February mayoral election and has raked in at least $10.9 million since March 1. Johnson raised nearly $4 million before the February election and has taken in at least $5.8 million since March 1.

☆ Chicago Mayor Runoff Election Results
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In the race to lead America’s third-largest city, Paul Vallas, a former public schools executive, is facing Brandon Johnson, a county commissioner and union organizer. The candidates come from opposite ideological ends of the Democratic Party, with Mr. Vallas calling for a crackdown on crime and Mr. Johnson seeking expanded social programs and new taxes. The incumbent, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, did not qualify for the runoff. Full results from the general election ›

☆ The Chicago Teachers Union Power Play
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Whatever happens in the Chicago mayoral election, voters can never unsee what they’ve witnessed from the Chicago Teachers Union, as it throws its feverish support to progressive candidate Brandon Johnson . The union’s falling approval ratings may be a leading indicator that Chicago voters understand the power grab at stake on April 4. In two recent polls by IZQ Strategies, respondents were asked their view of the CTU, the longtime power in city politics. In January 57% of likely voters said they had a favorable view of the union. By February that number had sunk to less than half, while unfavorables rose.

CHICAGO — Former Rep. Bobby Rush, a longtime African American leader in Illinois, plans to throw his support behind Paul Vallas in the mayor’s race, providing Vallas a potential boost among Black voters heading into next month’s election. The endorsement announcement, first shared with NBC News by Vallas’ campaign, is expected Tuesday morning. Rush plans to offer his backing at an event on the city’s South Side that will include an anti-violence march, according to a spokeswoman for the Vallas campaign. Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas speaks during a press conference at his campaign headquarters on Feb. 3, 2023 in Chicago. Al Sharpton, who’s a host on MSNBC, is set to hold a large get-out-the-vote rally at a church whose pastor has backed Johnson.

☆ Chicago Mayoral Candidates Vie for Key Hispanic Voters in Runoff
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Joe Barrett | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Chicago mayoral candidates Paul Vallas, left, and Brandon Johnson this month aimed to make clear with voters what sets them apart. CHICAGO—The two candidates competing to become mayor of the nation’s third-largest city are courting Hispanic voters, who make up roughly 30% of the population and could decide next month’s election. Paul Vallas , a former schools chief and moderate Democrat, has strong backing among white voters, while Brandon Johnson, a progressive Cook County commissioner, is working to solidify his support among Black voters. The crucial question is which candidate can expand his base to win the April 4 runoff.

March 10 (Reuters) - The Chicago mayor's office said on Friday a $23.8 million settlement has been reached with Juul Labs Inc over claims that the e-cigarette maker deceptively marketed its products and for selling vaping products to underage users. In the settlement, Chicago said Juul has denied and continues to deny any wrongdoing and liability in connection with the design, manufacture, production, advertisement, marketing, distribution, sale, use, and performance of its products. According to the settlement, the company has agreed to pay the city $2.8 million within 30 days of the execution of the agreement. Chicago would receive an additional $21 million payment later this year under the current schedule and may potentially receive up to $750,000 additional, court-awarded payments, the Chicago mayor's office said. Altria Group Inc (MO.N), which had a stake in Juul valued at $12.8 billion in 2018, on Monday exchanged its investment in Juul, last valued at $250 million, for some of the vaping company's heated tobacco intellectual property.

☆ Who Will Save Chicago?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during election night rally at Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council on February 28. By denying Mayor Lori Lightfoot a spot in the April 4 runoff, they delivered accountability for failure and provided some hope that the city might arrest its decline. Mayor Lightfoot blamed race and gender bias for her loss, but it’s hard to pin that on a city that voted for her overwhelmingly four years ago. In 2019 she swept all 50 city wards because she campaigned as a feisty outsider who would challenge the Chicago machine. Once in office she lost her way when she focused on progressive identity politics rather than solving the city’s problems.

☆ Why Lori Lightfoot Became the First Chicago Mayor to Lose in 40 Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Joe Barrett | Ben Kesling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

CHICAGO— Lori Lightfoot , weighed down by fights with the powerful teachers and police unions and a pandemic surge in crime, couldn’t make a runoff election in the city where she won all 50 wards four years ago to become mayor. Ms. Lightfoot came in third in Tuesday’s election. Former public-schools chief Paul Vallas and Cook County Board member Brandon Johnson were the top two vote-getters and will face off in the April 4 runoff. U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” Garcia came in fourth in the field of nine.

☆ Why Lori Lightfoot Is the First Chicago Mayor to Lose Re-Election in 40 Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Joe Barrett | Ben Kesling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Chicago Mayoral Election Pits Paul Vallas Against Brandon Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Ben Kesling | Joe Barrett | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas says public safety is a civil right. CHICAGO—Voters awoke Wednesday to a choice in the coming mayoral runoff between a moderate Democrat who promises to be tough on crime and a progressive who pledges to tackle inequity in the city. Paul Vallas , who once worked for Mayor Richard M. Daley and is supported by the police union, and Brandon Johnson , a former teachers-union organizer, were the top vote-getters in a nine-person field Tuesday, knocking incumbent Lori Lightfoot out of the April 4 runoff.

☆ Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Re-Election Bid, Says "We Put This City on a Better Path"
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Social Media Platforms Roll Out Subscriptions, But Will Users Pay? Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are among the social media platforms hoping their users will sign up for subscriptions. But will people want to pay for something that has historically been free? WSJ tech reporter Meghan Bobrowsky joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss why the platforms are doing this and what they are offering. Photo by Sergey Gribanov/Storyblocks.

☆ Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Re-Election Bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

What's next for bonds in 2023 after the worst year in historyLast year was described as the 'biggest outlier year' on record, as both stocks and bonds plunged. Here's what investors need to know about investing in bonds in 2023.

☆ AI-generated audio of Joe Biden and Donald Trump trashtalking while gaming is taking over TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Allegra Rosenberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

On TikTok, faked audio created by AI of Joe Biden and Donald Trump gaming has become a hit meme. But the ease with voice AI can be used for jokes also shows how easy it is to fake convincing quotes. The Biden Cinematic UniverseOn the @bidenandfriends TikTok account, "Sleepy Joe" plays Minecraft and other video games with his best (and worst) buddies. Other political and celebrity figures pop up in various installments, but the core trio of Trump, Biden, and Obama seems to persist across the lore. "I remember when people thought AI would kill us all, but this is how we use it," commented one TikTok user.

☆ Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Loses Re-Election Bid, Says "We Put this City on a Better Path"
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Chicago’s Mayor Lori Lightfoot Fights for Second Term in Elections Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Ben Kesling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, in striped shirt, leaves an early-voting site with her wife, Amy Eshleman, after casting their ballots. CHICAGO—In a city where politicians often hold on to power for years, the incumbent mayor is fighting for another term in Tuesday’s election after battling a pandemic, the teachers union and crime in the city. Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot faces eight other candidates in the mayoral contest with opponents on the left and right of her politically. If no candidate gets a majority, the top two vote-getters move on to an April 4 runoff election. Elections officials said that a high number of mail-in ballots could delay results past Tuesday night.

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