Avoiding scams on Giving Tuesday – Chicago Tribune

Good morning, Chicago.

As charities in Chicago and beyond prepare for Giving Tuesday, a global day of charitable giving that occurs on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, local authorities are urging donors to take steps to ensure their money goes to legitimate organizations, that bring about changes.

According to watchdog groups, cases of charity fraud tend to increase during holiday seasons, such as Giving Tuesday and the rush of year-end donations to qualify for tax deductions.

In addition to soliciting money from unwitting donors, scammers may also try to trick them into revealing sensitive personal information. Here are tips to avoid charity fraud.

And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.

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Some Democrats are frustrated that Joe Biden is changing course and pardoning his son Hunter

Already reeling from their defeats in November, Democrats are now grappling with President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son for federal crimes. Some are calling the move misguided and unwise after years of the party calling Donald Trump a threat to democracy who flouted the law.

A senior Fed official is leaning toward a rate cut in December but says it depends on economic data

In a speech at George Washington University, Christopher Waller, a key member of the Fed’s Board of Governors, said he was confident that inflation would fall and that the central bank would likely cut its key interest rate further, affecting many consumer and business loans.

Buyers aren’t worried about the tariffs yet, but say they will keep an eye on prices and jobs as they arise

With new President Donald Trump promising to impose tariffs on imported goods, economists say shoppers could soon expect higher prices for high-priced items.

“I need a foolproof stove,” said Chicagoan John Mendoza. “If you need a device, you need it. Obviously price is a consideration. But if I had to pay more for American jobs, I would.”

Wisconsin unions score a major victory with a court ruling restoring collective bargaining rights

Wisconsin public employee and teacher unions won a major legal victory Monday with a ruling that restores collective bargaining rights they lost under a 2011 state law that sparked weeks of protests and made the state the center of the national fight over union rights .

SEIU threatens to sue over CTU contract negotiations with CPS

Service Employees International Union 73, the union that represents special education teachers in Chicago public schools, is threatening to sue the district over a Chicago Teachers Union proposal that would allegedly take jobs away from SEIU and transfer them to CTU.

Mayor Brandon Johnson says he knows nothing about the allegations against the former communications director

Johnson blamed his office’s handling of harassment complaints against his former communications director on a flawed disciplinary process he inherited at City Hall.

In his first remarks to reporters since the Tribune reported on Ronnie Reese’s alleged behavior last week, the mayor said he was unaware of the allegations against Reese until his office filed a Freedom of Information Act request for a copy of Reese’s personnel file received in the town hall.

At her swearing in, prosecutor Eileen O’Neill Burke condemned the violence and announced a new detention policy

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke vowed to “get seismic things done” Monday morning as she took the oath of office before a bipartisan crowd, announcing a tough incarceration policy for some gun crimes and noting her statements were “war zone numbers.” of people who were shot in Chicago.

Mariyana Spyropoulos is promising to modernize the Cook County clerk’s office

Citing Greek philosophers and promising to “bring the office into the modern age,” Mariyana Spyropoulos was ceremoniously sworn into her new role as Cook County Circuit Court Clerk on Monday. The office, which has approximately 1,400 employees, is the recorder for criminal, civil, juvenile and traffic courtrooms throughout the county. It has long been criticized for being a patronage den that is difficult for the public to navigate.

Column: Thomas Brown’s top priority as Chicago Bears interim coach? “To unite this team” in the midst of chaos and division.

The mission for Thomas Brown now seems impossible, now that he has decided to accept it, writes Dan Wiederer.

With five games left in a declining Chicago Bears season, Brown suddenly finds himself at the helm of a damaged and wayward ship in stormy seas, trying to steer an exhausted football team ashore. Any shore. Any bank will do.

The Chicago Sky will begin the 2025 WNBA season on May 17 on the road against the Indiana Fever

The WNBA is coming off a record-breaking season with the most-watched regular season in 24 years and playoffs in 25 years. Fans also flocked to the games with the highest attendance in over two decades. Last season’s rookie class, led by Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, was a big reason.

Elton John says he has lost his eyesight

Elton John says he had difficulty watching his new musical because he lost his eyesight after an infection.

The singer-songwriter attended the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada in London on Sunday and told the audience: “I haven’t been able to come to many previews because, as you know, I’ve lost my eyesight.”

Top 10 films of 2024: In a time of villains, “Brutalist”, “Challangers” and the film about the exotic dancer

For Tribune film critic Michael Phillips, this year’s best films showed things he’d never seen before and followed the dynamics of familiar characters into new territory. Some were more visually striking than others; All made eloquent arguments for how and where their stories took place.

Originally published: December 3, 2024 at 6:35am CST