Caucus locations bursting at seams
By Steve Musal ANKENY, Iowa — Two reporters walk into a caucus room and are immediately asked to leave. In most cases that might be a sign of a failing democracy, but the reverse was true in Iowa tonight: There simply wasn’t any room for us. The place was packed wall-to-wall with Democratic caucus-goers. It’s […]
Team Sanders goes door to door in search of victory
By Steve Musal DES MOINES, Iowa — As the clock ticked toward Monday night’s Iowa caucuses, campaign workers for Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders spent the weekend making a door-to-door push that could decide his fate. A Des Moines Register poll showed Sanders in a statistical tie with former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, whose […]
Jeb Bush: I’m “more cerebral” and “better looking” than my brother
By Steve Musal CARROLL, Iowa — Jeb Bush, the son and brother of presidents, did not shy away from his famous family on Friday during a town hall event that drew an audience of about 150 people. “Frankly, I’m proud that my father was president of the United States and I’m proud that my brother […]
City divided: Should Emanuel resign?
By Steve Musal The two weeks since the city released the Laquan McDonald shooting video have been filled with protests, resignations, promises and apologies. However, Mayor Rahm Emanuel adamantly maintains he will not resign. The citizens are divided in opinion, with 51 percent of Chicagoans in favor of his resignation, according to an Illinois Observer […]
Protest week in review: Mostly peaceful in pursuit of justice
By Steve Musal Contributors to report: Mike Bacos, Aryn Braun, Jasmine Cen, Kayla Daugherty, Bian Elkhatib, Misha Euceph, Max Greenwood, Patrick Martin, Emiliana Molina, Meggie Morris, Alexis Myers, Steven Porter, Brooke Rayford, Thomas Vogel and Raquel Zaldivar. It’s been a little more than a week since the state filed a first-degree murder charge against Jason […]
City releases dash-cam video of 2014 slaying of black teenager
By Meggie Morris, Steve Musal and Steven Porter Chicago officials released a dash-cam video Tuesday showing a white police officer fatally shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times a year ago, as ordered by a Cook County judge last week. The release coincides with Tuesday’s charges against Jason Van Dyke, 37, a 14-year veteran of the Chicago […]
GOP Debate: Sparks fly over immigration, ISIS as rivals fight for spotlight
By Steve Musal MILWAUKEE — In the historic Milwaukee Theatre, where President Theodore Roosevelt famously delivered a 90-minute speech after being shot, the eight Republican candidates on the stage for the Fox Business GOP debate Tuesday night struggled for their moment in history. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former tech CEO Carly Fiorina, Kentucky Sen. Rand […]
GOP Debate: In Milwaukee, undercard candidates attack each other, Clinton
By Steve Musal MILWAUKEE — “Four low-polling Republicans walk into a Wisconsin theater” might sound like the start of a joke, but the participants in the Fox Business GOP undercard debate Tuesday evening demanded to be taken seriously. The debate featured New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and […]
Obama calls for police reform, support — and tougher gun laws
By Steve Musal President Barack Obama, addressing the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Chicago today, focused on the need to support and reform law enforcement and ended his speech with a call for tougher gun laws. Police chiefs, civil rights leaders talk violence, building relationships. Full Story. “I reject any narrative that […]
Police chiefs, civil rights leaders talk violence, building relationships
By Steve Musal After a year during which public awareness of violence involving police has sparked a nationwide conversation, the nation’s top cops decided to have one. Obama calls for police reform, support — and tougher gun laws. Full Story. The International Association of Chiefs of Police moved from a traditional one-speaker format for their […]