The Nooner | Chicago news and beyond | November 28, 2011

Some downstate Illinois representatives want to make Chicago a separate state; that's cool with me, as it would separate us completely from the Gathering of the Juggalos.

2011 Gathering of the Juggalos, August 11–14, Cave-In-Rock, Illinois

Photo: Nate "Igor" Smith of drivenbyboredom.com

The Nooner: Chicago news and beyond.
Today's news is about mystery hummingbirds and the awesomest teenage girl in the state of Kansas.

Mystery hummingbird sighted in Oak Park
An unknown hummingbird flew into Oak Park this past week, causing buzz among birdwatchers and ornithologists nationwide. Now, we only get four types of hummingbirds in Illinois—your ruby-throated, rufous, broad-billed and Allen’s hummingbirds. Though those last three are super rare, mostly a case of a bird that wanders far out of its normal range. And this tiny flyer in Oak Park is none of those; in fact, experts are not sure what kind of hummingbird it is at all, despite having crisp close-up photos of the gorgeous creature. He may be a hybrid hummingbird. Suh-weet. I was raised by birders, so I can tell you that this is really exciting, if you’re into that kind of thing.

The year in buzzwords
The year-in-review articles have started coming (expect a bunch here, too) and the Trib’s chiming in with a list of 2011 catchphrases for Chicago. They include (naturally) occupy, snowpocalypse, and Rahmfather.

You won’t get rid of us that easily, downstate
Two Republican state legislators have proposed turning Chicago into its own state. The representatives in question—Bill Mitchell and Adam Brown—want their central-Illinois region to be free once and for all from the crass liberal ways of the Windy City and its surrounding area. Brown complained to the Decatur Tribune about the legalization of civil unions and the abolition of the death penalty in Illinois, as examples. “These liberal policies are an insult to the traditional values of downstate families." I’m tempted to say good riddance: We keep the museums; you keep the Gathering of the Juggalos. But what I’ll actually say is this: Give us a couple years and watch us legalize gay marriage. Neener neener neener.

Teenage girl: 1, governor or Kansas: 0
An 18-year-old highschool student named Emma Sullivan tweeted that Kansas Governor Sam Brownback “sucked;” in response, the governor contacted her school and tattled on her. The school tried to get Sullivan to write a letter of apology; she refused, citing some obscure law Brownback’s apparently has never heard of: the First Amendment. Sullivan has instead requested a sit-down meeting with the governor to discuss her original complaint: His wholesale cuts to arts funding. Emma: You win. Also: You rock.