In the Loop

Illinois businesses are getting hit by tariffs as more countries retaliate over moves by the Trump administration. Even though bloodshed is down overall, more than 60 kids under the age of 15 have been shot in Chicago this year. Meanwhile, a new investigation shows additional concerns about a star pediatric psychiatrist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Those are just a few of the stories the Morning Shift digs into in its Friday News Roundup this week.

Most women have experienced catcalling or other forms of street harassment and yet, we don’t seem to be having an open conversation in this country about how often it happens, and the degree to which it does. In a 2015 survey, 85 percent of women in the U.S. reported experiencing street harassment before age 17. The first instance most often when respondents were 13 or 14. Advocates say survivors need proper support services to deal with the potential long-term impacts of harassment. Morning Shift explores the problem of street harassment, hears stories from listeners, and talks about how we can all help prevent harassment and assault.

Most women have experienced catcalling or other forms of street harassment and yet, we don’t seem to be having an open conversation in this country about how often it happens, and the degree to which it does. In a 2015 survey, 85 percent of women in the U.S. reported experiencing street harassment before age 17. The first instance most often when respondents were 13 or 14. Advocates say survivors need proper support services to deal with the potential long-term impacts of harassment. Morning Shift explores the problem of street harassment, hears stories from listeners, and talks about how we can all help prevent harassment and assault.

Happy July 4th? Not so fast. A new Gallup poll out Tuesday shows that less than half of U.S. citizens — 47 percent to be exact — are “extremely proud” to be Americans. That’s a record low. If you dig into the numbers, it appears patriotism is driven in part by politics. Right now only 32 percent of Democrats are “extremely proud” compared with 74 percent of Republicans. Politics and record lows aside, we wanted to ask listeners: “What’s something you’ve done recently that you consider patriotic?” Morning Shift digs into that question and checks in on the state of patriotism in America.

Happy July 4th? Not so fast. A new Gallup poll out Tuesday shows that less than half of U.S. citizens — 47 percent to be exact — are “extremely proud” to be Americans. That’s a record low. If you dig into the numbers, it appears patriotism is driven in part by politics. Right now only 32 percent of Democrats are “extremely proud” compared with 74 percent of Republicans. Politics and record lows aside, we wanted to ask listeners: “What’s something you’ve done recently that you consider patriotic?” Morning Shift digs into that question and checks in on the state of patriotism in America.

In a controversial shift, public elementary schools are now required to teach cursive writing before students complete the fifth grade. Illinois lawmakers in November voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of legislation that made cursive required teaching in schools. The law went into effect July 1 and will impact students in the 2018-19 school year. School districts will determine the grade level of instruction, but students must pass at least one unit of cursive writing by the end of fifth grade.

In a controversial shift, public elementary schools are now required to teach cursive writing before students complete the fifth grade. Illinois lawmakers in November voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of legislation that made cursive required teaching in schools. The law went into effect July 1 and will impact students in the 2018-19 school year. School districts will determine the grade level of instruction, but students must pass at least one unit of cursive writing by the end of fifth grade.

The biggest news this week came from the nation’s capital as the U.S. Supreme Court issued a handful of monumental rulings, including a case that originated in Illinois and dealt a huge blow to the future of public sector unions. Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn lost a battle against Mayor Rahm Emanuel this week, when his proposal to impose mayoral term limits was elbowed off the November ballot. This weekend, will see a number of new laws go into effect, including a $12 minimum wage in Chicago and cursive requirements in elementary schools. Plus, the city will finally get a street named after a woman of color. In this news roundup, Morning Shift reviews how the Janus court ruling will impact local unions, the latest news from this week’s City Council meeting, the new laws that go into effect July 1, and we’ll catch you up on key local stories that you might have missed during a busy week.

The biggest news this week came from the nation’s capital as the U.S. Supreme Court issued a handful of monumental rulings, including a case that originated in Illinois and dealt a huge blow to the future of public sector unions. Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn lost a battle against Mayor Rahm Emanuel this week, when his proposal to impose mayoral term limits was elbowed off the November ballot. This weekend, will see a number of new laws go into effect, including a $12 minimum wage in Chicago and cursive requirements in elementary schools. Plus, the city will finally get a street named after a woman of color. In this news roundup, Morning Shift reviews how the Janus court ruling will impact local unions, the latest news from this week’s City Council meeting, the new laws that go into effect July 1, and we’ll catch you up on key local stories that you might have missed during a busy week.

The U-S Supreme Court rules in favor of a non-union Illinois state employee who argued being forced to pay any sort of union dues violates his free speech rights. The case was known as Janus v AFSCME. The ruling was a victory for Mark Janus, the plaintiff, and other state workers who aren't part of a union. but it was also a victory of sorts for Illinois' republican Governor Bruce Rauner, who is seen as anti union.