CHICAGO — Here's what we're reading today.
Code blue: Senior editor Andrew Herrmann is reading Bankrate.com's report on how just a few city blocks can mean hundreds of dollars more in annual automobile rates. One example: a 30-year-old single man with a 2013 Toyota Camry living in Old Town's 60610 Zip Code pays $269.95 for six months. Another single man — same age, same car — pays $442.89 for living three-tenths of a mile away in Lincoln Park's 60614 Zip. That's 64 percent higher.
The insurance industry says the difference is based on accidents and thefts in certain geographical locations. But bankrate.com points out that similar Camry-driving 30-year-old women living in Old Town and Lincoln Park pay the same rates under the plan examined.
Look out, buddy! High insurance rates ahead! [Shutterstock]
Another Reason Why "The Bachelorette" is Bananas: The ABC reality show is already known for being unkind to women (a sneak peak revealed that current Bachelorette Kaitlyn has sex this season and is made to feel bad about it) and "embarrassingly white." It's no surprise then that Monday night's episode is offensive in a new way — it uses gay men as a punch line. Reporter Mina Bloom is reading Time magazine's take on the episode. In it, two of the male contestants form a bond and it's clear the producers, through manipulative editing, want viewers to believe they're becoming more than just friends.
"It's no wonder men are afraid of their emotions and don't like to bond in public when the media shames them as soon as they have a very natural inclination to form a friendship with someone they're locked in a house with for a month," writes Brian Moylan.
Coffee in the morning? Not great as you think: Hitting the Keurig first thing might feel like a vital part of your A.M. routine, but drinking coffee shortly after waking up is actually "a bit" counterproductive, the Washington Post reports. The paper, citing a science-focused YouTube channel, says that reaching for the Joe first thing undermines the caffeine's effect and tends to lead people to build a tolerance for the drug, making the jolt ultimately less effective. But coffee fanatics like reporter Stephanie Lulay can rest easy - it turns out there's best times to consume coffee, too. For maximum effect, pour your first cup roughly between 10 a.m. and noon.
Butter coffee at Ugly Mug cafe at West Town. [DNAinfo/Jackie Kostek]
Lathrop Homes' Safe Haven Closing: Chicago magazine reports that the Daniel A. Cotter Boys & Girls Club, which has served families living near the Lathrop Homes public housing complex since 1963, is shutting its doors. Pending construction that will demolish the housing projects to make way for "mixed-income housing" is being blamed, and families say they're losing "our own little safe haven":
"He described Cotter as 'a little piece of heaven.' Without a space to spend time playing sports and doing other productive activities, he says some neighborhood kids might wind up in trouble. “Going to jail—that’s all there is. Ain’t nobody over here got no money. A lot of kids over here want to do things but they ain’t got the money to do it, and you’ve got the drug dealers that’s wanting to give them money. The club kept us out of that.'"
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