A+E WOMEN MAKE HISTORY AT 73RD TONY AWARDS CHARLES SYKES/AP EXPANDED SPORTS COVERAGE SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE Questions? Call 1-800-Tribune Monday, June 10, 2019 Breaking news at chicagotribune.com Property tax relief next ‘think big’ idea Illinois pols must deliver a transformative plan to what his next “think big” initiative provide property tax relief with a ment overhauling the state in- will have to be: substantive prop- mandate to deliver its final recom- come tax he would use the help sell graduated-rate income tax amendment erty tax relief to Illinois home- mendations by the end of Decem- proceeds to help alleviate proper- owners. ber. ty taxes. That burden exists largely By Rick Pearson “consequential and transforma- With voter outrage growing Traditionally, assigning an issue because of low funding for public Chicago Tribune tive legislative sessions in history.” over rapidly rising property taxes, to a legislative task force is akin to elementary and high schools. But in approving a proposed a transformative plan to lower giving it a death sentence. But Pritzker acknowledged the Gov. J.B. Pritzker hailed the constitutional change to state in- them could help sell Pritzker’s there is one significant difference pairing of the issues last week in accomplishments of state law- come taxation, a balanced budget, graduated-rate income tax this time. signing the $40 billion state makers for checking off the major a massive $45 billion capital con- amendment in November 2020. During his campaign to unseat budget bill and legislation en- items of his “think big” agenda struction plan, a statewide expan- This year, lawmakers were able Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, shrining the graduated tax rates if this spring, saying their work sion of gambling and legalized to settle only on creating a task Pritzker vowed that if voters delivered Illinois one of the most marijuana, Pritzker also knows force to come up with ways to approved a constitutional amend- Turn to Relief, Page 7 Southern Illinois provider prepares for an upsurge of patients Making their pitches count 19 presidential hopefuls court Iowans, but Biden a no-show at event By Seema Mehta Los Angeles Times CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Nine- teen candidates. Five minutes each. The math of an early, unwieldy field of Democrats added up to a long procession of White House hopefuls across an Iowa stage, where they wooed the voters and party activists who could decide their fates. Only four candidates skipped ERIN HOOLEY/CHICAGO TRIBUNE PHOTOS Sunday’s fundraiser for Iowa’s A couple holds hands at Hope Clinic for Women after terminating a pregnancy that involved anencephaly, a severe birth defect. Democratic Party, the largest gathering of the 2020 candidates to date, in the state that will kick off the nominating process next year. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders took a veiled shot at former Vice President Joe Biden, who skipped the event because he was celebrat- FRONT LINE ing his granddaughter’s high school graduation. “I understand there are some well-intentioned Democrats and in abortion rights battle candidates who believe the best way forward is a middle-ground By Angie Leventis Lourgos strategy that antagonizes no one, the small cluster of anti-abortion that stands up to nobody and that Chicago Tribune activists. One of the strangers said changes nothing,” Sanders said. she must be able to feel her baby “In my view that approach is not GRANITE CITY, Ill. – The moving and suggested adoption. just bad public policy, but it is a couple donned sunglasses and Another mentioned that Father’s failed political strategy that I fear baseball caps before entering a Day was approaching. would end up with the reelection southern Illinois clinic on a recent Inside the clinic, the man and of Donald Trump.” weekday, attempting to shield woman described their initial ela- Iowa voters won’t caucus until their identities from protesters tion at the prospect of parenthood, February, but the gathering took outside. Fearing for their safety, eagerly awaiting their firstborn place during a critical period of they also rented a car so their own whom they affectionately called the primary. It’s the first major license plate could not be traced. “little one.” Then a 20-week cattle call in Iowa, and the party’s The young woman’s 21-week Turn to Hope Clinic for Women in Granite City, Ill. first debates and a key fundraising pregnancy was clearly visible to Abortion, Page 6 deadline are just weeks away. Each candidate was given just minutes to speak, making it diffi- cult for them to differentiate themselves. But the speeches pro- vided an opportunity for invalu- able publicity among some of the Lightfoot inherits fate most coveted voters in the nation. They largely agreed on policies such as cracking down on the easy of mental health clinics availability of guns, protecting Administration weighs The new mayor has said she is abortion rights and fighting cli- up to the challenge, promising to options after ’12 closing repair what she calls the city’s Turn to Iowa, Page 9 of half of city’s facilities broken mental health safety net. But Lightfoot’s immediate By Jeff Coen plans aren’t expected to include Chicago Tribune reopening the clinics, according to Going from pipe some advisers and priorities iden- Few issues in recent Chicago tified by her transition team. dream to reality history have been as contentious as The city cannot account for At Bears100 Celebration, director former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s what happened to individuals decision to close half the city’s who were receiving treatment of player personnel Josh Lucas mental health clinics, and now Lori before the 2012 closures, accord- explained how the team traded ZBIGNIEW BZDAK/CHICAGO TRIBUNE Lightfoot will inherit complaints ing to a Tribune review. And Diane Adams, a patient who was affected by the closing of mental that the move left hundreds of for All-Pro pass rusher Khalil health clinics in Chicago, is now an activist protesting the closings. at-risk patients without stable care. Turn to Clinics, Page 4 Mack. Chicago Sports 71 54 Chicago Weather Center: Complete $2.50 city and suburbs, $3.00 elsewhere Tom Skilling’s forecast High Low forecast on back page of A+E section 172nd year No. 161 © Chicago Tribune 2 Chicago Tribune | Section 1 | Monday, June 10, 2019 ANTONIO PEREZ/CHICAGO TRIBUNE Beye Elementary school principal Jonathan Ellwanger with student Matias Best, 6, outside the school on Friday. Principal helps 1st-grader with ‘THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE BOOK autism face last day of school OF THE CHICAGO CUBS: A “He said, ‘Mr. E, why are you on the kee and attended Northwestern Uni- DECADE-BY-DECADE HISTORY’ phone?’” Best said. “ ‘You’re calling versity. He planned to become a high my house?’” school choral conductor, but he fell in If you’re a Cubs fan, you probably thought your life was Ellwanger asked Matias if he’d like love with Beye and never left. complete after the final out of Game 7. Not quite. You to know what was on the lunch menu “I was just so touched because it need to hold this book in your hands, if for no other rea- that day. He asked Matias if he’d like really takes a village,” Best said. “My son than to prove that the dream of November 2016 was Heidi Stevens to come join them for the last day of kiddo was going to miss the last day of real. A beautiful and detail-rich hardbound collection of school. school. At the end of the day, he Chicago Cubs history, “The Chicago Tribune Book of the Balancing Act “Then out of the blue, Mr. E says, would’ve realized he missed the last Chicago Cubs” chronicles all the ups and downs of one of Thursday was the last day of school ‘Well, buddy. Would it help if I just day, and then it would’ve been too the most beloved teams in all of sports, from the first at Oak Park’s Beye Elementary, and walk over to your house and pick you late.” pitch in 1876 to the final out of the 2016 World Series. 6-year-old Matias Best didn’t want to up to go to school? I’ve never been to Matias’ dad snapped a photo of Available at chicagotribune.com/cubshistorybook go. your house!’” Best said. “And Matias is Matias and his principal walking to Matias is on the autism spectrum, like, ‘Yeah! Yeah, that would work! school. Matias’ mom posted it on UNSCRIPTED: and transitions can be a challenge. Daddy, is that OK?’” Facebook with a little story about the An Intimate Conversation with Jennifer Weiner Transitioning from the school year to Mr. E asked Matias if he knew his encounter. Comments, likes and loves When: Thursday, June 20 from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (Doors summer break felt a little daunting address. Matias did. Mr. E told him poured in. open at 6:15 p.m.), Venue SIX10, 610 S. Michigan Ave. that day, and so, he declared, he would he’d be right over. “For all of us, little things are big Columnist Heidi Stevens will talk to New York Times not be going. “I know that often a little grease for things,” Ellwanger told me. “This is a bestselling author Jennifer Weiner about her newest “I knew it was going to be a tough the wheels is all that somebody little thing, but it’s what we do and, book, “Mrs. Everything,” women’s rights, sexual freedom morning for him when I had to get needs,” Ellwanger said.