Mayor picks new city clerk:

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday appointed a 31-year-old member of his administration to be the next city clerk, taking over for Susana Mendoza, who left the position to become the state comptroller. Anna Valencia has been the director of the mayor’s Office of Legislative Counsel and Government Affairs. Her appointment is subject to the city council’s approval, but she’ll begin the job in the interim, according to city officials. The clerk oversees records for the city, including the city council’s official legislative files. Most city residents interact with the clerk’s office when applying for parking permits or vehicle stickers. “Anna has proven herself as the next generation of leadership,” Emanuel said of Valencia, who is the daughter of a Mexican immigrant. “For parents of immigrants, in Chicago and around the country, Anna is proof the struggle and sacrifice is worth it.” He said Valencia was chosen over several aldermen and a state legislator. Valencia called the new job an honor, saying at a news conference that she looks forward to building on “common-sense reforms” of her predecessor. That includes implementing and expanding the new municipal identification program, which will be available to all city residents regardless of immigration status.

Classes on Richard J. Daley:

The personal papers of Richard J. Daley, Chicago’s mayor for 21 years until his death in 1976, will help shape a series of courses at University of Illinois at Chicago. The papers were donated to the university’s Richard J. Daley Library and include a signed photo of John F. Kennedy with Daley and his family at the White House after Kennedy’s inauguration. The collection includes letters detailing Daley’s role as the host of the turbulent 1968 Democratic convention and Daley’s correspondence with the Democratic National Committee. Classes will include single-credit courses and seminars for alumni and community members. The first class will be offered spring semester. It will focus on the politics of 1968 and be taught by visiting lecturer David Greenstein.

Chicago alderman indicted:

An attorney for a prominent Chicago alderman says his client will fight the charges against him in a newly unveiled indictment. Willie Cochran’s attorney spoke Wednesday after the grand jury indictment was filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The charges include federal program bribery and extortion. Thomas Durkin said in a phone interview from New York that he hasn’t had the chance to go through all the documents in the case. But he said his client has an “outstanding reputation.” The indictment accuses the alderman of pilfering at least $30,000 from a charitable fund, then using the money to gamble at casinos and to pay his daughter’s college tuition.

Immigration aid fund set up:

Chicago’s city council has approved a $1.3 million fund to help immigrants with legal services, including those facing deportation. There was widespread support for the fund, which will use money set aside from a little-used property tax relief program. Three aldermen voted against it Wednesday. Aldermen in support say the fund is a response to the election of Donald Trump, who has promised to taken an aggressive approach to immigration, including deporting millions. Two Chicago groups will help the city run the fund for immigrant legal services, including initial screenings. Experts estimate 150,000 Chicago area residents don’t have permanent legal status.

Worker was hit by vehicle:

Authorities said a worker who died at a suburban reservoir that’s under construction was hit by a vehicle being used to clear snow. The Cook County medical examiner’s office said 55-year-old Robert Ellison of Spring Grove was pronounced dead Monday at the McCook Reservoir worksite in Summit. A statement from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the construction worker was “struck and killed by a rough-terrain vehicle during snowplowing operations.”

He was hit in a parking lot. The medical examiner’s office ruled the death accidental.

The reservoir is part of the Deep Tunnel project to improve flood control and prevent water pollution.

Closing arguments to start:

A federal judge in a major Chicago gang case says closing arguments in the Hobos trial are about to begin. He told jurors before they went home Wednesday that there would be some testimony this morning but that closings would start later today. The arguments could be the legal equivalent of a marathon with each of the six men on trial having his own lawyers. Each lawyer will have a chance to deliver arguments in the complex case. The defendants are accused of a racketeering conspiracy including nine killings.