It’s the day before the 2024 Presidential Election. Preview the race and get caught up on all the local stories you need to know about from WTTW News.
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(Kenishirotie / iStock)
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Illinois has a first-in-the-nation law that starting in July will limit financial institutions' lucrative practice of charging a fee when consumers use a credit or debit card. However, banks are "freaking out" about the changes and the Illinois Bankers Association, American Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions and the Illinois Credit Union League are asking a U.S. District Court judge to put a preemptive temporary hold (known as a preliminary injunction) on it.
Here’s more about these fees:
When customers swipe a credit or debit card for a purchase, they likely don’t realize the behind-the-scenes labyrinth that transpires between the bank that issued the card, the merchant’s bank and the merchant.
The financial institution that issues the credit card — be it a local credit union or a massive institution like Visa or Mastercard — is “liable” for the cost, and in return charges retailers what’s known as an “interchange fee” that’s a percentage of the purchase.
The law doesn’t outlaw so-called interchange fees completely, but it does preclude credit card processors from applying the fee on the portion of a card swipe that pays for state and local taxes and tips.
More about the case:
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has defended the law.
Financial institutions warn that it would wreak havoc on regular, quick transactions and worry that if they're not in full compliance, they risk $900 million in annual civil penalties. Aside from the legal arguments at play, bankers and retailers dispute the practical ramifications of the law.
If granted, a preliminary injunction could be appealed or vacated at any point, in which case the July 1 deadline would return.
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“We Gotta Vote” campaign sign. (Credit: Provided)
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With just a day to go until the election, Chicagoans have already cast hundreds of thousands of ballots. Among those early voters are Latinos, who make up an increasing number of voters across Illinois, and Black males, who have turned into a crucial bloc this election. With both Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump making appeals to get their respective votes, these two demographic groups could swing the race.
How Harris and Trump Are Trying to Secure Latino Votes:
Jose Sanchez Molina, a communications and political consultant, said that although Harris joined the campaign just three months ago, she gained attention for Democrats among Latinos quickly by focusing on education, housing and access to small business ownership.
After a comedian at a Trump rally called Puerto Rico a “floating pile of garbage,” the campaign is attempting to control the damage. The hope for Republicans is that his message on the economy resonates more than the vitriol.
How Harris and Trump Want to Win Over Black Men:
Previously, Harris was receiving criticism in her efforts to address Black men, but she announced a plan earlier this month aimed at giving Black men more economic opportunities called the “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men.”
While Trump has not come out with a specific policy for Black men, his campaign does claim low, middle, and high-income households will fare better under the campaign proposals
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A page from “Chicago in Color” by Judit Prat Marti.
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Judit Prat Marti moved to Chicago from Spain in early 2020 to accept a fellowship in the University of Chicago’s Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Three months later, the pandemic struck – and Prat Marti shifted her focus from the cosmos to the city. She took photography classes and explored Chicago with a camera. She built a body of work taking photos of overlooked nooks of the city, embracing the finer points of her temporary home. Now, this scholar of cosmology is a photographer with a new book, “Chicago in Color.” Read WTTW News arts correspondent Marc Vitali's interview with her here.
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Back in the Day: November 4, 1929 - Civic Opera Building Opens
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Take a westward stroll downtown along the Chicago River and you’ll spot the massive, 45-story tower of the Civic Opera Building on North Wacker Drive. On this day 95 years ago, the theater, office building, and enduring monument to local arts and culture opened in 1929. Thanks to its two, 22-story wings and a 12-story "seat“ jutting out from its center, the building looks like a giant throne. It boasts the 3,563-capacity Civic Opera House, which is the second-largest opera auditorium in North America, and the home to both the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Joffrey Ballet. Built by the British American businessman Samuel Insull, its lobby and intricate fire curtain was detailed
by the acclaimed muralist Jules Guérin.
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Get Involved With This Week's Civic Meetings and Events
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Every Monday, we bring you a week’s worth of select public meetings, civic happenings and other ways to stay connected to your community.
Chicago City Council
The city is in full budget mode with a series of hearings scheduled on Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed budget starting Wednesday.
Election
The City Club of Chicago is hosting a lunchtime discussion on Thursday that will dig into election results and what they mean for Chicago and the region.
Civics Day
The city of Chicago on Saturday will be hosting its annual Civics Day, where residents can learn how to lead neighborhood improvement efforts during a free, full-day event.
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Other News From Around Town: |
The Cubs lost last night. With their playoff hopes fading, the defeat hands the NL Central title to the Milwaukee Brewers.
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What’s the best sandwich in Chicago? Tell us why and where we can find
it.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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5:30 PM| 10:00 PM
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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