Feb. 17--Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield.
Topspin
Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton returns to Chicago on Wednesday for a "get out the vote" rally in the Bronzeville neighborhood as she works to gain African-American support in her primary campaign battle with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Clinton will be joined at the rally by Geneva Reed-Veal, the mother of Sandra Bland, the Naperville woman whose death in a Texas county jail last summer sparked national attention.
The trip, to encourage early voting in advance of the March 15 primary, marks the second time that Clinton will appear in Bronzeville since announcing her presidential bid. Last year, at a union-backed event, she held a roundtable with child care workers to discuss costs and push for paid family leave.
Facing an aggressive challenge from Sanders for the Democratic nomination, Clinton has made gaining support from African-American voters a key.
On Tuesday, she delivered a speech on racism in Harlem in which she called for ending the "school to prison" pipeline that disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities.
Clinton, a Chicago native who was raised in Park Ridge, criticized a lack of money for public schools and increasing demands on teachers for allowing a culture of "zero tolerance" to take root to handle student conflict.
She proposed a $2 billion plan to help create the hiring of "School Climate Support Teams" in districts and schools with high suspension and in-school arrest rates.
Her campaign noted Chicago's schools have one of the highest racial discrepancies for students punished, issuing 32 suspensions per 100 black children compared with only five for white students.
In addition to the Bronzeville rally, she also will hold a high-dollar fundraiser. Donors who raise $27,000 will gain entrance to a "host reception" with her as well as a spot on the Hillary for America Finance Committee, according to an invitation.
Sanders' campaign, meanwhile, opens a South Loop office in the afternoon. (Rick Pearson)
What's on tap
*Mayor Rahm Emanuel has no public events.
*Gov. Bruce Rauner gives his budget speech at noon. Watch here.
*The Chicago City Council Housing Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to consider an ordinance that would give aldermen more say over the Chicago Housing Authority.
*Grace period voting starts. (Regular early voting starts Feb. 29.)
What we're writing
*Rauner to deliver second budget speech before winning approval of first budget.
*Zopp more aggressive in second debate of Democratic U.S. Senate campaign.
*Scalia vacancy quickly becomes campaign issue for Sen. Mark Kirk.
*Emanuel says city will release police shooting videos two to three months after incidents.
*Another call for special prosecutor in Laquan McDonald police shooting case.
*Two 911 call takers suspended without pay in LeGrier case.
*Chicago in bind on Lucas Museum sites.
What we're reading
*C'mon, ride the (CTA pension) train?
*Emanuel drops in magazine's yearly arbitrary power rankings.
*African-American fathers, sons strengthen bonds in Washington Park project.
From the notebook
*CTU "walk-in" protests: As contract talks continue Wednesday, the Chicago Teachers Union and allied groups are planning a series of "walk-in" protests at schools across the city.
It's the latest in a series of demonstrations against Mayor Emanuel and his appointed Chicago Board of Education. CTU says the coordinated protests will focus on "nearly 200 CPS campuses," mostly around schools' morning arrival times.
The union says the demonstrations -- which come amid ongoing contract talks and a district effort to trim $85 million from its student-based budgets to schools this year -- will be peaceful. But the plan has led to some tension with school officials.
The school district's security office "is working with principals to put specific protocols in place" for Wednesday "to ensure student safety and avoid classroom disruptions," according to a message sent to parents by district CEO Forrest Claypool and his top education officer, Janice Jackson.
CPS told parents it expected union members and supporters to gather outside school buildings to demonstrate, but that protesters might also "attempt to walk into the school building as a group in a form of civil disobedience."
"In some cases, this may mean limiting access to schools in the morning," Claypool's letter said. "In many cases, there will be no change needed."
A district spokeswoman didn't answer which schools would have limited access Wednesday, however. (Juan Perez Jr.)
*Clip-and-save debate list: WTTW-Ch. 11's "Chicago Tonight" will host a series of Democratic primary candidate debates next month ahead of the March 15 election.
March 1 is the 8th Congressional District: Schaumburg businessman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Elgin state Sen. Michael Noland and Villa Park Village President Deb Bullwinkel.
March 2 is the 10th Congressional District: Former U.S. Rep. Brad Schneiger and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering.
March 7 is the 1st Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and 21st Ward Ald. Howard Brookins.
March 9 is a Cook County Circuit Court clerk forum: Four-term incumbent Dorothy Brown, 8th Ward Ald. Michelle Harris and attorney Jacob Meister.
March 10 is a Cook County state's attorney forum: Two-term incumbent Anita Alvarez and challengers Kim Foxx and Donna More.
Each one starts at 7 p.m.
Follow the money
*Billionaire Democratic donor George Soros gave $70,000 to a super political action committee promoting Democratic Cook County state's attorney challenger Kim Foxx.
*Marty Durkan, who's running as a Democrat for a water reclamation board seat, spent around $50,000 on a mailing for Ald. Michelle Harris, who's the Cook County party's endorsed candidate for Circuit Court clerk.
*Track campaign contribution reports in real time with this Tribune Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ILCampaignCash
Beyond Chicago
*Presidential race, Republican side: Brothers Bush versus Donald Trump in South Carolina.
*Presidential race, Democratic side: Clinton talks race in Harlem ahead of Chicago visit.
*Grassley waiting for Obama Supreme Court nominee before deciding whether he'll hold hearings.
*AP explainer on the fight in northern Syria.
