WBEZ’s Chicago And Illinois News Roundup: June 15, 2018

New Roundup
Jason Marck/WBEZ
New Roundup
Jason Marck/WBEZ

WBEZ’s Chicago And Illinois News Roundup: June 15, 2018

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In this week’s Friday News Roundup, Morning Shift takes a look at local stories on transportation, politics and criminal justice.

First, we dig into new plans for an underground express train from Chicago’s Loop to O’Hare International Airport that Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Thursday.

Tech visionary Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX will head up the project using machines from his Boring Company to build the tunnels and technology used in his company’s electric vehicles. The express trains are expected to travel from downtown to the airport in 12 minutes at speeds up to 150 miles per hour. At least that’s the plan.

In other transportation news, we explore Metra’s future and how Chicago’s Vision Zero traffic and pedestrian safety initiative is doing one year after its launch.

We also discuss Governor Bruce Rauner’s puzzling statement about Legionnaires’ disease at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, Mike Madigan and #MeToo. Host Jenn White also digs into testimony by Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson on Quintonio LeGrier who was shot to death by police in 2015.

GUESTS: Becky Vevea, WBEZ city politics reporter

Mary Wisniewski, transportation reporter for the Chicago Tribune

David Greising, CEO of the Better Government Association

LEARN MORE:

Elon Musk’s plans for O’Hare express draw skepticism (Chicago Tribune 6/14/18)

Column: Vision Zero traffic safety program battles deadly driving culture (Chicago Tribune 6/12/18)

Reality Check Time for Metra: The Downside of Frugality (Better Government Association 6/14/18)

Top cop Eddie Johnson under oath: ‘Never heard an officer talk about code of silence’ Chicago Tribune 6/14/18)