Cook County treasurer accused of bullying: The Rundown
Good afternoon! It’s Wednesday, and this is the clearest image I’ve seen of the star-forming gases in the Milky Way galaxy. Here’s what you need to know today.
For months, Pappas has blamed Texas-based Tyler Technologies for technological problems that delayed property tax revenue payments to school districts, local governments and other taxing bodies across the county, my colleague Dan Mihalopoulos writes for WBEZ.
But in a letter this week to Pappas, Tyler CEO H. Lynn Moore Jr. bemoaned what he called the “scapegoating” of the company, which has been working for years to upgrade the county’s property tax system. Moore alleged the treasurer has shown a “lack of accountability” for mistakes by her own office in her efforts to “deflect blame and divert attention to us.”
The focus of much of the letter, obtained by WBEZ, was on Pappas’ behavior toward Tyler team members, who Moore said had faced “attacks” from the treasurer in the past year. Moore said the situation finally prompted him to conclude Tyler executives would stop taking calls from Pappas and would not meet with her in person again.
Pappas offered no apologies yesterday, saying she was angry tens of thousands of taxpayers across the county are owed refunds that have been delayed.
“Of course I went crazy, because if you were Maria Pappas and you had $189 million worth of checks that you could not get out, you would be upset too,” she told WBEZ. “The whole world knows that Maria Pappas is an attack dog.” [WBEZ]
2. How does a mild winter affect Chicago’s economy?
After recent winters with lower than normal snowfall or higher than normal average temperatures, this year we’ve seen long cold snaps and a near normal amount of snow. It’s been streaky, but it’s closer to what lives in long memories, my colleague Justin Bull writes for WBEZ.
A typical Chicago winter is good for certain sectors of the economy, such as car mechanics and auto body shops, according to Mike Wendling, an IAM Local 701 organizer who represents those workers in the Chicago region. Others include snow removal, natural gas companies, HVAC repair and plumbers.
While this year doesn’t feel like it, the season has actually been getting milder: The city experienced an average of 15 fewer days below freezing in the last decade, compared to between 1959 and 1980, according to a 2025 Crain’s analysis of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
So, do mild winters have a noticeable effect on the local economy? Yes, but the effects are short-lived, according to recent economic research from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. In the longer term, the answer is also yes, but exactly how remains to be seen because climate change is predicted to cause “substantial reallocations of people and jobs across the country.” [WBEZ]
3. Here are the on-air personnel affected by WGN TV’s latest round of layoffs
WGN TV cut nine on-air personnel this week in its latest round of layoffs, including entertainment critic and reporter Dean Richards and sports anchor Chris Boden, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. More layoffs are possible.
Others let go were news anchors Ray Cortopassi, Sean Lewis and Judy Wang, reporters Julian Crews and Bronagh Tumulty, meteorologist Mike Janssen and political analyst Paul Lisnek. Sources say Cortopassi was laid off in the middle of his shift, leaving Micah Materre to work solo on the anchor desk Monday night.
The layoffs follow a recent round of behind-the-scenes cuts that included copywriters. Similar circumstances have touched local network affiliates but rarely hit “Chicago’s Very Own.” They come as WGN parent company Nexstar works to merge with media conglomerate Tegna in a deal under regulatory review. [Chicago Sun-Times]
4. Mentors can make the difference for young Black men in college. Here’s how to be a good one
Black boys and men have to scale high walls to get into college and complete their degree. Research has found that mentors, especially those who are also Black and male-identifying, can help by sharing how they navigated similar obstacles or by connecting mentees to tutoring, mental health care and food.
Local advocates are asking Chicagoans of all backgrounds to put themselves forward, either by volunteering with a mentoring organization or by connecting with young people through their churches, alma maters or fraternities and sororities.
Good mentors are consistent, reliable and present. They arrive ready to listen and know when to set boundaries, tell their mentee what they’re good at and don’t expect anything in return.
You can see a list of places to become a mentor in the link. [WBEZ]
They’re part of a cast of 16 competing for the biggest prize pot in the history of food competition TV, Miriam Di Nunzio reports for the Chicago Sun-Times,
The show’s mission is to challenge each chef in what the series calls “10 culinary commandments”: meat, vegetables, sauces, dessert, innovation, flavors, sustainability, world cuisine, consistency, and culinary science and technology. Chefs will be judged on taste, creativity, presentation and technique.
Sharing judging duties with Lakshmi are two Michelin-starred chefs/restaurateurs, Los Angeles-based Michael Cimarusti (Providence, Connie and Ted’s) and New York-based Wylie Dufresne (Stretch Pizza).
“America’s Culinary Cup” airs at 8:30 p.m. March 4 on CBS and streams on Paramount Plus. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Here’s what else is happening
- Here’s an annotated fact-check of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union. [NPR]
- Toymaker Mattel gave the company’s American Girl dolls a more contemporary look. [New York Times]
- No matter where the Chicago Bears end up, the city wants $630 million to overhaul Soldier Field. [Chicago Sun-Times]
- Portillo’s slowed its national expansion plans amid weaker sales. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Oh, and one more thing …
Buddy Guy’s approach to the blues fills a room, which writer and director Ryan Coogler uses to anchor the film “Sinners” and pay tribute to the music and culture. The movie, which has garnered a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations, portrays the journey of a young man in the South navigating the obstacles life throws at him. That story closely resembles Guy’s.
The musician, who has been performing since the 1950s, takes keeping the blues alive seriously and continues to introduce the music to a new generation. He saw a resurgence in the 1980s and early 1990s and has won several Grammys, including one this year for traditional blues album for “Ain’t Done with the Blues.”
That staying power is one of the reasons Coogler wanted Guy in his movie, and he personally visited Guy’s eponymous club Buddy Guy’s Legends to ask him to join the film. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Tell me something good …
What are your favorite movie adaptations of novels?
Kaitlin (mom) and Oscar (kid) write:
“In my 6 year old’s opinion, ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ is the best book-to-movie adaptation, followed closely by ‘Wild Robot,’ which is my favorite. I can’t help but cry every time I watch the Wild Robot become the fiercest parent in the forest.”
Andrew writes:
“My ‘favorite’ (in quotes, as I use the word cautiously) film adaptation of a novel remains Francis Ford Coppola’s harrowing ‘Apocalypse Now,’ based on Joseph Conrad’s novella, ‘Heart of Darkness.’ A film not untimely, as it depicts the descent into madness of a man without an ethical compass, who pretends to have absolute power over life and death. Sobering.”
Beth writes:
“I have three that I think are actually better as movies, which almost never happens! They are ‘Brooklyn’ by Colm Toibin, ‘Sense and Sensibility’ by Jane Austen (the Emma Thompson version), and ‘Wonder Boys’ by Michael Chabon. Each one had a fantastic source novel, but the screen version somehow strengthened the story and made it warmer.”
And Margaret writes:
“When I was fourteen, my parents took me to see ‘Dr. Zhivago.’ It made an indelible impression on me, and I still try to watch it whenever I can. It made me an incurable romantic!”
Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.
Discussion in the ATmosphere