NEWS OF THE DAY
1 Steyer campaign: Bay Area billionaire Tom Steyer spent $47 million during the first three months of his presidential bid — a jawdropping sum that places him on track to join the biggest selffunding political candidates in American history. The hedge fund manager turned ecowarrior is worth an estimated $1.6 billion. He has donated $47.6 million to his campaign and raised an additional $2 million, according to Federal Election Commission reports. The 62yearold has never run for public office before. He is among the biggest Democratic donors in the country and has said he would spend $100 million of his wealth on his presidential bid.
2 Teachers strike: Chicago teachers are set to go on strike after failing to reach a contract deal with the nation’s thirdlargest school district. Both sides have been negotiating for months over issues including pay and benefits, class size and teacher preparation time. The Chicago Teachers Union said Wednesday night that teachers will strike Thursday. Chicago educators say the district has shortchanged schools after years of budget cuts and they want all promises in writing. The district says its offer of a 16% raise over five years is comprehensive and “historic.” A strike would mean no classes for nearly 400,000 students. The last major teachers strike in Chicago was in 2012.
3 Racial slur: Some criticized New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday for using a racial slur for African Americans while discussing historical discrimination toward darkerskinned Italian immigrants. The Democrat used the slur in an interview on WAMC radio while speaking about Columbus Day and a recent New York Times article about how Italians overcame bigotry in the U.S. The governor made his comments as he criticized Italian stereotypes and called for African American, Jewish and Italian communities to stick up for one another when one group faces bigotry. Cuomo said “pardon my language” before he used the Nword followed by a derogatory slur once commonly lobbed against Italians. Cuomo prefaced his remark by saying he was quoting the newspaper.
4 Tarzan actor: Authorities say “Tarzan” actor Ron Ely’s wife was stabbed to death in their Southern California home by the couple’s son, who police subsequently shot to death. A Santa Barbara County sheriff ’s statement Wednesday said deputies found 62yearold Valerie Lundeen Ely dead with multiple stab wounds on Tuesday night. Deputies identified the suspect as the couple’s son, 30yearold Cameron Ely, who was found outside the house. Authorities say that after an unspecified threat, four deputies fired on Cameron Ely and he was killed. There was no report of the 81yearold Ron Ely being injured. Ely played the title character on the NBC series “Tarzan,” which ran from 1966 to 1968.