<p>Thousands of kids and adults stepped into the white coats of University of Chicago students and researchers on Saturday for the fifth annual South Side Science Festival.</p><p>More than 130 hands-on demonstrations and activities ranging in disciplines from biology, aerospace, physics and more spanned the campus, allowing children and adults to play games, conduct experiments and ask questions of professional scientists.</p><p>The South Side Science Festival was inspired by The Long Night of Sciences — a public science festival in Germany where universities and research labs open their doors to the public. Organizers say the event intends to close the gap between the South Side community and researchers by demonstrating that science is for everyone.</p><p>“We wanted to replicate [The Long Night of Sciences festival],” said Maanasa Raghavan, associate professor in the Department of Human Genetics and a founding organizer. “But at the same time, make it very focused on our communities here on the south side.”</p><p>Raghavan says polarizing opinions about the role of science professionals and federal funding cuts in science can be demoralizing, but seeing thousands of people engaging at their annual festival is a reminder of how important their work is.</p><p>“We may be fostering young scientists,” she said. “That's why we're here, and we'll keep showing up.”</p><p>Organizer Luke Dyer says the festival was also a direct response to general fears and distrust in medicine following the initial COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>“The idea is to bring people in and show them the science that's happening [at the University of Chicago], and also answer their questions,” he said.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-c90000" name="image-c90000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e7a7ea7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F16%2F4500713d4c2c84d862b79cc5087a%2Fdsc01824.jpeg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b803a9f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F16%2F4500713d4c2c84d862b79cc5087a%2Fdsc01824.jpeg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/64f8544/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F16%2F4500713d4c2c84d862b79cc5087a%2Fdsc01824.jpeg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="PhD student Michelle Bessiake, who has led demonstrations at the University of Chicago's South Side Science Festival for the past three years, poses for a photo." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/64f8544/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F16%2F4500713d4c2c84d862b79cc5087a%2Fdsc01824.jpeg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6b68926/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F16%2F4500713d4c2c84d862b79cc5087a%2Fdsc01824.jpeg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/64f8544/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F16%2F4500713d4c2c84d862b79cc5087a%2Fdsc01824.jpeg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>PhD student Michelle Bessiake, who has led demonstrations at the University of Chicago’s South Side Science Festival for the past three years, spends the day helping attendees play a board game she created with her colleagues on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.<br></p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Somer Van Benton/WBEZ</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>PhD student Michelle Bessiake has led demonstrations at the festival for the past three years. As a researcher, she says she can spend upwards of 60 hours a week researching and running experiments, but volunteering at the festival drives her to do better work.</p><p>“These long, hard days of doing experiments — you come out here, you see what matters to people, it grounds us really,” Bessiake said.</p><p>She loves experiencing the moment it all clicks: where people begin to understand how and why scientists do what they do.</p><p>“The kids are playing with slime — they’re also asking questions,” Bessiake said. “And they're like, ‘Oh, that's why I should get vaccinated.’”</p><p>South suburb resident Nijel Mottley said his 4 year-old son loves mixing things and watching science shows on YouTube.</p><p>“He's pretty hands-on so he’s really enjoying it,” Mottley said.</p><p>Mottley brought his son, Remy, to the festival to foster his interest in science.</p><p>“We need more scientists to solve these issues, and this kind of fosters that and allows them to learn the different ways science can be applied,” Mottley said.</p>

<p>Illinois is still moving the chains in stadium talks to keep the Bears from jumping the state line to Indiana, officials said Thursday.</p><p>Gov. JB Pritzker met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Bears minority owner Pat Ryan and the top legislative leaders who have been wrangling for several years over the property tax incentives the team is seeking to break ground in Arlington Heights.</p><p>It was Goodell’s <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/08/14/bears-stadium-hammond-arlington-heights-report-roger-goodell-met-illinois-lawmakers-nfl-commissioner" target="_blank" ><u>second meeting</u></a> in as many months with Illinois officials, while Ryan — who bankrolled his namesake stadium opening later this week at <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/college-sports/2026/10/01/northwestern-ryan-field-penn-state-wildcats-nittany-lions-evanston-friday-college-football" target="_blank" ><u>Northwestern University</u></a> — takes a more active role in negotiations with the state over Bears president Kevin Warren, who hasn’t made inroads in Springfield.</p><p>The conversation, held in Chicago, also included Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and the Capitol’s top stadium negotiators, South Side state Sen. Bill Cunningham and downtown state Rep. Kam Buckner.</p><p>Pritzker’s office noted they’ve “remained in conversation with the Bears about their plans in Illinois throughout the summer,” since the team announced in June that they were shifting focus to Hammond, Indiana.</p><p>Sources familiar with Thursday’s discussion suggested there was no major breakthrough, but some optimism that common ground could be found before lawmakers return to Springfield in mid-November for the fall veto session. Further meetings are expected this month.</p><p>"The Governor and General Assembly leadership were glad to participate in a productive meeting focused on keeping the Bears in Illinois and protecting taxpayers,” Pritzker’s office said in a press release announcing the meeting.</p><p>"The NFL appreciated the opportunity to meet with Gov. Pritzker and legislative leaders today,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “Timely action is essential as the Bears work to find a long-term stadium solution for the club and their fans."</p><p>A Bears spokesman had no additional comment.</p><p>Hoosier lawmakers have rolled out <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/26/bears-stadium-hammond-indiana-hammong-senate-passes-bill-27-arlington-heights-george-mccaaskey-kevin-warren-nfl" target="_blank" ><u>the red carpet</u></a> for the Bears with legislation that would pump upwards of a billion taxpayer dollars into a new stadium.</p><p>Earlier this year, the Illinois House passed a bill that would allow the Bears to negotiate a discounted payment in lieu of taxes with local taxing bodies, earning critical support from Chicago Democrats because it would’ve shared proceeds with homeowners as property tax rebates — but those returns were deemed “<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2026/05/04/bears-stadium-property-tax-relief-pritzker-negligible" target="_blank" ><u>negligible</u></a>.”</p><p>The Illinois Senate passed a separate bill that would allow municipalities to create their own stadium authorities to negotiate with teams, but it crumbled in the waning hours of spring session <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2026/05/31/bears-stadium-bill-springfield-arlington-heights-hammond-indiana" target="_blank" ><u>without a vote in the other chamber</u></a>.</p><p>The Bears turned their noses at both measures, but haven’t spelled out what they want from the state beyond “property tax certainty.”</p><p>Ryan, a billionaire with a 10% stake in the team, has helped improve the tenor of discussions that had stagnated between Illinois officials and Halas Hall, according to sources familiar with the talks.</p><p>Goodell has toured the potential stadium sites in Arlington Heights and Hammond. Without stating a preference, he has publicly urged the Bears to come to a resolution “soon” — but Illinois sources are taking his visits as an indication that the league thinks the team is better off in its original state.</p><p>The Bears have committed to putting $2 billion into a new stadium wherever they end up. They’re under lease at Soldier Field until 2033.</p><p><i>Contributing: Sun-Times sports reporter Pat Finley</i></p>

<p>The Avalon Regal Theater — the South Side's Moorish Revival jewel box that fell into decay after closing 16 years ago — is in line to get a $249,500 city grant to help fix up the landmark venue, the Chicago Department of Planning and Development announced Friday.</p><p>The cash from the agency's Adopt-A-Landmark Fund would help pay for critical masonry repairs and rebuild the exposed brick substructure of a tower on the northwest corner of the 99-year-old theater at 1645 E. 79th St.</p><p>Also covered under the grant would be the selective removal and resetting of displaced masonry, isolated repointing, temporary supplemental stabilization of the building and the isolated repairs on the theater's front facade, the department said.</p><p>The theater is among three projects recommended for a total of $666,400 in repair funding under the Adopt-A-Landmark program. The others are Stone Temple Baptist Church in North Lawndale and the appropriately named Monumental Baptist Church in Bronzeville.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-810000" name="image-810000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6b89770/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5173x2903+0+273/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff4%2F0b%2F6e0b619e76b86783c7a311ee6092%2Fmerlin-80813652.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2812b89/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5173x2903+0+273/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff4%2F0b%2F6e0b619e76b86783c7a311ee6092%2Fmerlin-80813652.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90668b0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5173x2903+0+273/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff4%2F0b%2F6e0b619e76b86783c7a311ee6092%2Fmerlin-80813652.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Exterior of Stone Temple Baptist Church at 3622 W. Douglas Blvd." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90668b0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5173x2903+0+273/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff4%2F0b%2F6e0b619e76b86783c7a311ee6092%2Fmerlin-80813652.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/675c007/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5173x2903+0+273/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff4%2F0b%2F6e0b619e76b86783c7a311ee6092%2Fmerlin-80813652.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90668b0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5173x2903+0+273/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff4%2F0b%2F6e0b619e76b86783c7a311ee6092%2Fmerlin-80813652.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Stone Temple Baptist Church in North Lawndale will receive nearly $200,000 for repair work from the city’s Adopt-a-Landmark Fund.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The funding would be the theater's first significant public cash infusion since Community Capital Investment Partners President Jerald Gary <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/9/20/22678518/avalon-regal-theater-restoration-jerald-gary-kanye-west" >bought the building in 2014</a> from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. for $100,000.</p><p>Gary didn't return calls for comment. </p><p>The Avalon Regal website, which features <a class="Link" href="https://www.avalonregal.com/" target="_blank" >eye-popping interior photos</a>, optimistically promises the auditorium will be open in 2027 and "full venue activation in 2028."</p><p>Built in 1927 as the Avalon Theater, the building was designed by John Eberson, who modeled the work after an intricate metal Persian incense burner he found in a Royal Street antique store in New Orleans' French Quarter.</p><p>The 2,200-seat Avalon Regal still dazzles, even in its tattered and disused state. </p><p>The ornate street-side ticket booth alone is worth a look, if you're ever in the neighborhood. The beauty looks as if a genie would pop out if you rubbed the structure the right way.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-600000" name="image-600000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c24548b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F91%2F07%2F6e28f81a453e9b4d076ee9097c8c%2Favalon-261002-14.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/04d2ecf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F91%2F07%2F6e28f81a453e9b4d076ee9097c8c%2Favalon-261002-14.JPG 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e097211/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F91%2F07%2F6e28f81a453e9b4d076ee9097c8c%2Favalon-261002-14.JPG" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The Avalon Regal Theater's ticket stand, with boarded-up doors on each side." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e097211/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F91%2F07%2F6e28f81a453e9b4d076ee9097c8c%2Favalon-261002-14.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2e493ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F91%2F07%2F6e28f81a453e9b4d076ee9097c8c%2Favalon-261002-14.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e097211/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F91%2F07%2F6e28f81a453e9b4d076ee9097c8c%2Favalon-261002-14.JPG" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Avalon Regal Theater’s ticket stand remains impressive after 99 years.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>And the colorful auditorium is pure escapism. It's sky blue ceiling and detailed plaster walls with turrets and minarets are designed to make patrons feel they're watching a movie or a live show in an outdoor courtyard in an exotic land — rather than near the intersection of 79th Street, Stony Island and South Chicago avenues.</p><p>The building was later converted to a church. But in 1985, Soft Sheen products founder <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2023/3/22/23651715/edward-gardner-soft-sheen-philanthropist-dead" >Ed Gardner</a> and his wife, Bettiann, bought and restored the theater, reopening it in 1987 as the New Regal.</p><p>The revived live theater was named in homage to the legendary Regal Theater at 47th Street and King Drive that had been demolished in 1973.</p><p>The New Regal wound up in the hands in the FDIC after a subsequent owner went to federal prison for stealing $900,000 in state grant money that was supposed to fund a work training program at the theater.</p><p>Landmarks Illinois awarded Gary and Community Capital a Preservation Heritage Grant in January 2016 for emergency exterior masonry repairs.</p><p>And Preservation Chicago named the theater one of the city's seven most endangered buildings in 2012.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-610000" name="image-610000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b743ada/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4670x2621+0+245/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7c%2F6e%2Ff3dafe9d4ed19a33f907867be817%2Favalon-261002-24.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6516a32/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4670x2621+0+245/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7c%2F6e%2Ff3dafe9d4ed19a33f907867be817%2Favalon-261002-24.JPG 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8ec4248/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4670x2621+0+245/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7c%2F6e%2Ff3dafe9d4ed19a33f907867be817%2Favalon-261002-24.JPG" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Aerial view of a crumbling tower attached to the left side of the Avalon Regal Theater." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8ec4248/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4670x2621+0+245/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7c%2F6e%2Ff3dafe9d4ed19a33f907867be817%2Favalon-261002-24.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/456a1d9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4670x2621+0+245/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7c%2F6e%2Ff3dafe9d4ed19a33f907867be817%2Favalon-261002-24.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8ec4248/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4670x2621+0+245/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7c%2F6e%2Ff3dafe9d4ed19a33f907867be817%2Favalon-261002-24.JPG" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The crumbling tower (left) will be repaired, as part of the rehabilitation work that would be funded by a $249,500 city grant.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Preservation Chicago Executive Director Ward Miller said he hoped the Adopt-a-Landmark Grant "coupled with foundation grants will address the many needs to restore this cornerstone of Avalon Park, South Shore and South Chicago."</p><p>Community Capital must submit updated drawings and project specifications to the city within 2 years to receive the funds.</p><p>Meanwhile, Stone Temple Baptist Church, 3622 W. Douglas Blvd., a Romanesque and Moorish-inspired former synagogue, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke, is set to be awarded $167,000 in Adopt-a-Landmark funding.</p><p>The grant would help repair the parapet on the church's annex building, purchase new exterior doors and cover interior drywall and plaster work.</p><p>And the 123-year-old Romanesque Revival-styled Monumental Baptist Church, at 729 E. Oakwood Blvd., would get $249,900 for a new roof, downspouts and masonry work.</p><p>"Since 2016, more than $14 million in Adopt-a-Landmark Grant awards have been allocated for 33 historic preservation projects valued at more than $166 million," a planning department spokesperson said.</p>

<p><i>Good afternoon! It’s Friday, and expect arguably </i><a class="Link" href="https://wgntv.com/weather/" target="_blank" ><i><u>perfect weather</u></i></a><i> this weekend. I plan to take advantage by waiting in line for cider at Apple Fest. Here’s what else you need to know today.</i></p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/curious-city/2026/10/01/why-losing-industrial-jobs-hit-differently-in-detroit-milwaukee-and-chicago" target="_blank" ><b><u>1. Losing industrial jobs hit differently in Detroit, Milwaukee and Chicago</u></b></a></p><p>More than a century ago, the “Big Three” automakers — General Motors, Ford and Chrysler — made a home in Detroit, which led to more cars being built in the Motor City than anywhere in the world. These factory jobs attracted the first wave of the Great Migration — African Americans leaving the rural South for the urban North, starting in the 1910s — as well as immigrant workers.</p><p>But in the ’50s, the Big Three started pulling out of the city, moving to the suburbs for cheaper land. Today, headquarters for the Big Three automakers still operate in metro Detroit, but jobs in the city never bounced back.</p><p>The story of industry and its demise echoed in Milwaukee, the home of beer and brewing, heavy manufacturing, and iron and steel, also called “The Machine Shop of the World.” There, industry was more diverse than in Detroit, which went all in on the auto industry. With a bustling port and growing rail system, Milwaukee was critical to the economy of the Wisconsin region. When industry jobs left, urban renewal brought in freeways but also displaced families in lower-income neighborhoods. Redlining discriminatorily shut people out of certain neighborhoods. This stunted generational wealth, a history the city is still dealing with.</p><p>Chicago pivoted to a postindustrial chapter earlier than Detroit and Milwaukee, thanks to its more diverse economy and status as a transportation hub. However, not all parts of the city recovered equally, with tax incentives and money funneled Downtown but not to other neighborhoods. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/curious-city/2026/10/01/why-losing-industrial-jobs-hit-differently-in-detroit-milwaukee-and-chicago" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ/WUWM/WDET</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/work/2026/10/02/labor-aligned-group-sees-boon-in-jobs-and-tax-revenues-with-illinois-data-center-growth" target="_blank" ><b><u>2. A labor-aligned group sees a boon in jobs and tax revenues with Illinois data center growth</u></b></a></p><p>Data center projects planned in Illinois over the next decade could generate tens of thousands of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenues but also drive up utility bills, according to a report.</p><p>The state is expecting $57 billion worth of new data center projects through 2035, which labor-backed think tank Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois say could create 121,000 mostly temporary skilled trade and construction jobs.</p><p>If those projects come to fruition, local municipalities could also see nearly $300 million more in annual property tax revenues, “reducing the tax burden on homeowners while funding schools, libraries, police and fire districts,” the report said.</p><p>But as the state expands its data center landscape, study author Frank Manzo told WBEZ that residents may pay $12 more per month in electric bills.</p><p>Data centers and the growing use of artificial intelligence continue to dominate national debate, becoming a hot-button issue on the campaign trail. Gov. JB Pritzker has called for national guardrails, comparing AI to nuclear weapons. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/work/2026/10/02/labor-aligned-group-sees-boon-in-jobs-and-tax-revenues-with-illinois-data-center-growth" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/government-politics/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-llinois-governor-race-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-collin-corbett" target="_blank" ><b><u>3. Here’s what to know about the race for Illinois governor</u></b></a></p><p>Incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, seeking a rare third term as Illinois governor, squares off with Republican nominee Darren Bailey and independent candidate Collin Corbett. Pritzker was first elected in 2018, and this year’s contest presents a rematch of his 2022 reelection victory, when he beat Bailey by nearly 13 percentage points.</p><p>Widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, Pritzker would be the first Illinois governor elected to a third term since former Republican Gov. Jim Thompson won the third of his four terms in 1982.</p><p>Bailey is a farmer and former state senator from southern Illinois who elevated his profile as a vociferous critic of COVID-19 restrictions implemented by Pritzker early in the pandemic, maintaining his hardline conservative base in downstate regions en route to a second straight gubernatorial nomination. President Donald Trump endorsed Bailey’s 2022 campaign and encouraged him to stay in the 2026 race in the face of immense personal tragedy last year when a helicopter crash claimed the lives of Bailey’s son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Trump has endorsed him again.</p><p>Corbett is a moderate former Republican political consultant running as an independent. He collected 37,000 signatures to get on the ballot. A fiscal conservative who supports abortion rights and opposes much of the Trump agenda, the millennial candidate says he offers middle ground in a polarized political climate. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/government-politics/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-llinois-governor-race-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-collin-corbett" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/10/02/search-underway-for-chicagos-next-christmas-tree" target="_blank" ><b><u>4. A search is underway for Chicago’s next Christmas tree</u></b></a></p><p>Tree owners across the Chicago area can submit a tree for consideration as the centerpiece of the 2026 Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, taking place Nov. 20 in Millennium Park, according to a press release from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.</p><p>Tree submissions are open through Oct. 23. Suggestions must be 45 feet tall and located less than 50 miles from the Loop. A Norway spruce or fir tree is preferred.</p><p>Entries should be emailed to DCASE@CityofChicago.org and include the owner’s name, address, phone number and email address, as well as a brief description explaining why the tree should become Chicago’s official Christmas Tree. Entries should attach at least two pictures of the tree, including one photograph from afar and one close up. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/10/02/search-underway-for-chicagos-next-christmas-tree" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/architecture-design/2026/10/01/jeanne-gang-north-lawndale-community-garden-honorees-aic-chicago-designight-2026" target="_blank" ><b><u>5. Jeanne Gang and a North Lawndale community garden were among the honorees at architecture’s Designight 2026</u></b></a></p><p>The Humboldt Park Health Wellness Center — with its iridescent green and blue cladding designed to match the colors of the Caribbean Sea — is among the buildings that took top honors at yesterday’s AIA Chicago’s Designight 2026 awards ceremony.</p><p>Chicago firm Studio Gang, led by Aqua Tower architect Jeanne Gang, was also given the architecture organization’s 2026 Firm Award that recognizes a firm’s body of work over the last 10 years.</p><p>As my colleague Lee Bey writes, the awards were among 52 projects recognized at the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects’ yearly gala, held at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.</p><p>Long dubbed the “Oscars of Chicago architecture,” Designight recognizes the best projects by local architects.</p><p>You can see photos of the winners in the link. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/architecture-design/2026/10/01/jeanne-gang-north-lawndale-community-garden-honorees-aic-chicago-designight-2026" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><b>Here’s what else is happening</b></p><ul class="rte2-style-ul" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" id="rte-992029b0-bea1-11f1-94a9-51cf7d8f9d78"><li>U.S. hiring slowed to 29,000 jobs added last month, and the unemployment rate inched up to 4.2%. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.npr.org/2026/10/02/nx-s1-5989140/jobs-labor-wages-federal-reserve" target="_blank" ><u>NPR</u></a>]</li><li>Families are navigating challenging conversations about consent amid the Cornell University rape allegations. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/01/well/family/cornell-rape-case-parents-consent.html?unlocked_article_code=1.FlE.AkqT.GvzkBZzbVIzF&smid=url-share" target="_blank" ><u>New York Times</u></a>]</li><li>NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell visited Illinois again for more Bears stadium talks with Pritzker. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2026/10/01/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-illinois-visit-bears-stadium-talks-gov-jb-pritzker" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</li><li>Want to see a White Sox playoff game? Be prepared to pay as much as $1,000 per ticket. [<a class="Link" href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/10/01/white-sox-home-playoff-tickets-are-selling-for-up-to-1000-as-demand-surges-at-rate-field/" target="_blank" ><u>Block Club Chicago</u></a>]</li></ul><p><b>Oh, and one more thing …</b></p><p>As the seat of Vernon County and home to its courthouse, Viroqua, Wisconsin, weathered the tobacco bust and the midcentury exodus from small towns that struck rural America, driven by industrialization and car culture. But on its outskirts, interest grew among back-to-the-landers and small farmers, including Amish families, drawn to the fertile soils of the Driftless, a rare Midwestern region that had eluded the Ice Age glaciers and their scouring retreat. Its irregular, contoured fields resisted industrial farming, allowing small producers to flourish.</p><p>As WBEZ contributor Elaine Glusac reports for our Midwest travel series, Viroqua became synonymous with the so-called Driftless Slow movement — intentional living with a strong DIY streak. Driftless newcomers contributed “original thinking about how to live their lives and raise their families and steward the land and think about health and wellness and spirituality,” said Jacob Hundt, the executive director of the Driftless Folk School who grew up on a farm in the area. “As a result, there’s a lot of interesting people here.”</p><p>Many of them teach crafts like wooden spoon carving and copper bowl pounding, as well as skills like canning, electrical wiring and wood framing, at the decentralized school, where weekend classes might take place in an instructor’s kitchen or barn. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/travel/2026/10/02/living-slowly-in-the-driftless-regions-viroqua-wisconsin" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><b>Tell me something good …</b></p><p>What’s your favorite class or workshop you’ve taken in the Chicago area?</p><p>Katrina writes:</p><p>“I take a stained glass class every Saturday morning at the Beverly Arts Center, and it’s one of my favorite two hours of the week! Just finished my biggest project yet — a transom window for my 125 year old house.”</p><p>Gail writes:</p><p>“Eons ago, I attended a workshop on Dracula and vampirism in the evolution of cinematography at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, given by the chair of the Psychology Department.</p><p>In a nutshell, Nosferatu was first filmed during the silent film era. Because of the silent black and white media, he had to be really scary and ugly with pointed ears, etc.</p><p>Then came talkies. Bella Laguso was from Austria and spoke very bad English. Therefore, he had to speak very slowly to enunciate his words, i.e. I w a n t to d r i n k y o u r b l o o d. Because people in this country were not really familiar with folks from foreign countries at the time, it was most scary. (When he died, Bella was said to have been buried in his Dracula cape.)</p><p>I might be missing a step, but from Bella we moved on to Frank Langella and color film. Frank wore ruffled shirts and was very attractive.</p><p>From there we went on Anne Rice’s production with Tom Cruise as Lestat starring with Brad Pitt. I believe they were homosexuals.</p><p>Then there was the television soap opera starring Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins entitled Dark Shadows. In it, a doctor was actually looking for a cure for vampirism.</p><p>The morning consisted of watching many film clips by way of explanation, with one break for refreshments: a bowl of (blood) red punch, sandwiches held together by ‘stakes,’ etc.”</p><p>Thanks for all the responses this week! It was nice hearing from everyone.</p>

<p>Data center projects planned in Illinois over the next decade could generate tens of thousands of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenues but also drive up utility bills, according to a <a class="Link" href="https://www.illinoisepi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ILEPI-PMCR-Data-Centers-in-Illinois-_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" ><u>report</u></a> released Thursday.</p><p>The state is expecting $57 billion worth of new data center projects through 2035, which the labor-backed think tank, Illinois Economic Policy Institute, and the University of Illinois say could create 121,000 mostly temporary skilled trade and construction jobs.</p><p>If those projects come to fruition, local municipalities could also see nearly $300 million more in annual property tax revenues, “reducing the tax burden on homeowners while funding schools, libraries, police and fire districts,” the report said.</p><p>But as the state expands its data center landscape, study author Frank Manzo said residents could have to pay $12 more per month in electric bills.</p><p>“The key is to install guardrails that minimize the risks while maximizing the value,” said Manzo, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, which is aligned with the Illinois AFL-CIO. That umbrella labor organization is a supporter of data center construction.</p><p>Data centers and the growing use of artificial intelligence continue to dominate national debate, becoming a hot-button issue on the campaign trail. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is running for a historic third-term, has called for national guardrails, comparing AI to nuclear weapons.</p><p>Pritzker last month formed an<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2026/09/22/illinois-ai-cabinet-artificial-intelligence-pritzker" > Illinois AI cabinet</a> to “assess the various risks” of the technology, including the energy burden data centers will have on Illinois’ power grid.</p><p>And his administration, earlier this year, put a two-year pause on state tax incentives for data center construction.</p><p>Illinois has more than 200 operational or planned data centers, the largest one being a 795-acre site in Joliet slated to be operational by 2030. Manzo said Illinois ranks ninth in the U.S. for having the most centers per million residents, and that’s because the state is an “ideal destination” for many developers.</p><p>“We have a central location in the country. We have a cooler climate which really helps with heating costs,” Manzo said, adding the state’s stable of skilled and productive construction workers and university-educated workers are an additional draw for data center developers.</p><p>The projects planned the next 10 years will need 6.5 gigawatts of electricity, equivalent to powering 4.5 million homes. The report notes that electricity costs for both commercial and residential users will rise as more data centers materialize.</p><p>But, Manzo said, that can be mitigated.</p><p>He and the study’s authors have offered 10 state policy recommendations, which include the state barring utilities from raising rates by more than 5% per year and encouraging data centers to capture the heat emitted from the centers and sending it to neighboring homes and businesses.</p><p>The authors also recommend legislation to require data centers to come up with their own clean energy supply or enter into cost-sharing agreements with utility companies.</p><p>State Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, said she was pleased to see many of these recommendations mimic what was in the <a class="Link" href="https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/BillStatus?DocNum=5513&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=167488&SessionID=114" target="_blank" ><u>POWER Act,</u></a> a sweeping package aimed at regulating data centers’ use of energy and water, among other things.</p><p>Though it received overwhelming support from environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers, the plan failed to pass last spring. But Williams said conversations are still ongoing.</p><p>“Our priorities would be ensuring ratepayer protection, ensuring there's sufficient capacity on the grid, safeguarding water and other resources,” Williams said. “My mantra is and will continue to be as we continue to explore legislation: Put people first.”</p><p>Williams has held several legislative hearings on data centers and a town hall on the issue in her North Side district. She said many residents don’t have a positive opinion of data centers in general, and it’s not just because their utility bills are high. She said constituents also worry about the centers’ water usage and noise pollution.</p><p>“I think we're at the point with data centers that we need to mandate some of these requirements,” Williams said. “Resources don't seem to be an issue. I don't see the need for incentives, and I'm hopeful that we can avoid that conversation and really talk about what data centers can do for communities if they do locate there.”</p>

<p><i>Regenerative tourism harnesses the power of sustainable travel to transform places and communities for the better. In this series, we look at Midwestern towns and small cities that have leaned into tourism to help lift local economies and create destinations that travelers want to visit.</i></p><p>Stage coaches, and later Greyhound buses, long used the grand <a class="Link" href="https://www.hotelfortney.com/" target="_blank" ><u>Hotel Fortney</u></a> in Viroqua, Wisconsin, about 90 miles northwest of Madison, as a depot for travelers. The 1899 Queen Anne with a signature two-story circular bay window accommodated tobacco traders in southwestern Wisconsin’s Driftless Area where Norwegian settlers commonly grew the cash crop. As a social hub, the hotel served elaborate meals. A multi-course Easter menu in 1901 opened with “mullagawny” soup and closed with “Tea. Coffee. Milk.”</p><p>As the tobacco age waned, so did the Fortney. By 2017, when Brian Wrobel, a local organic rancher, toured the building, it was derelict even if it still accommodated long-term renters. “It was a one-of-a-kind building, and we wanted to bring it back,” said Wrobel, who with his family bought the building in 2020 and, after extensive remodeling, reopened with 14 rooms and a lounge in 2023 (100 N. Main St.).</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-5e0000" name="image-5e0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0b5e9cc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5712x3206+0+539/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbd%2F6a%2F056e936046628840b2b7933a745a%2Fhotel-fortney-lounge.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/56ff007/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5712x3206+0+539/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbd%2F6a%2F056e936046628840b2b7933a745a%2Fhotel-fortney-lounge.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e71bbfc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5712x3206+0+539/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbd%2F6a%2F056e936046628840b2b7933a745a%2Fhotel-fortney-lounge.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Hotel Fortney_Lounge.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e71bbfc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5712x3206+0+539/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbd%2F6a%2F056e936046628840b2b7933a745a%2Fhotel-fortney-lounge.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/573fa23/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5712x3206+0+539/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbd%2F6a%2F056e936046628840b2b7933a745a%2Fhotel-fortney-lounge.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e71bbfc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5712x3206+0+539/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbd%2F6a%2F056e936046628840b2b7933a745a%2Fhotel-fortney-lounge.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The lounge at the Hotel Fortney in Viroqua, Wisconsin. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Provided by Hotel Fortney</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>As the seat of Vernon County and home to its courthouse, Viroqua weathered the tobacco bust and the mid-century exodus from small towns that struck rural America, driven by industrialization and car culture. But on its outskirts, interest grew among back-to-the-landers and small farmers, including Amish families, drawn to the fertile soils of the Driftless, a rare Midwestern region that had eluded the glaciers and their scouring retreat. Its irregular, contoured fields resisted industrial farming allowing small producers to flourish (in time many of them would band together as Organic Valley, the country’s largest farmer-owned organic coop).</p><p>Over time, Viroqua became synonymous with the so-called Driftless Slow movement, or intentional living with a strong DIY streak. Driftless newcomers contributed “original thinking about how to live their lives and raise their families and steward the land and think about health and wellness and spirituality,” said Jacob Hundt, the executive director of the <a class="Link" href="https://www.driftlessfolkschool.org/" target="_blank" ><u>Driftless Folk School</u></a> (608-284-8524) who grew up on a farm in the area. “As a result, there’s a lot of interesting people here.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-c00000" name="image-c00000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/706bad6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1149+0+196/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff2%2F34%2F8921f86d4217a6b519400e7ade0d%2Fdriftless-folk-school-johncarlson-woodcarving.jpeg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6a7c96e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1149+0+196/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff2%2F34%2F8921f86d4217a6b519400e7ade0d%2Fdriftless-folk-school-johncarlson-woodcarving.jpeg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/42dbc56/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1149+0+196/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff2%2F34%2F8921f86d4217a6b519400e7ade0d%2Fdriftless-folk-school-johncarlson-woodcarving.jpeg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Driftless Folk School_JohnCarlson_WoodCarving.jpeg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/42dbc56/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1149+0+196/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff2%2F34%2F8921f86d4217a6b519400e7ade0d%2Fdriftless-folk-school-johncarlson-woodcarving.jpeg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/015bc52/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1149+0+196/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff2%2F34%2F8921f86d4217a6b519400e7ade0d%2Fdriftless-folk-school-johncarlson-woodcarving.jpeg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/42dbc56/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1149+0+196/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff2%2F34%2F8921f86d4217a6b519400e7ade0d%2Fdriftless-folk-school-johncarlson-woodcarving.jpeg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Wood carving demonstration at the Driftless Folk School in Viroqua, Wisconsin.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Provided by Driftless Folk School</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Many of them teach crafts like wooden spoon carving and copper bowl pounding as well as skills like canning, electrical wiring and wood framing at the decentralized school, where weekend classes might take place in an instructor’s kitchen or barn. “The practical homesteading skills are a reflection of this place,” said Hundt. “It’s about neighbors teaching each other and welcoming visitors to the area and connecting over something.”</p><h3>Strong ties to the land</h3><p>Organic farming also nurtured Viroqua’s dining scene. Raised in nearby La Farge, Luke Zahm had a successful career as a chef in Madison before returning to the area, partly for its proximity to nature — “I needed access to wild places where I could wander and get lost,” he said — and to locally raised food.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-ff0000" name="image-ff0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/02039bb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1078+0+1/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4e%2F09%2F0795c303424683b88c2bb6e0318e%2Fdriftless-cafe-dcstill5.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4929160/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1078+0+1/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4e%2F09%2F0795c303424683b88c2bb6e0318e%2Fdriftless-cafe-dcstill5.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/40b49df/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1078+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4e%2F09%2F0795c303424683b88c2bb6e0318e%2Fdriftless-cafe-dcstill5.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Driftless Cafe_DCstill5.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/40b49df/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1078+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4e%2F09%2F0795c303424683b88c2bb6e0318e%2Fdriftless-cafe-dcstill5.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/32f29d4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1078+0+1/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4e%2F09%2F0795c303424683b88c2bb6e0318e%2Fdriftless-cafe-dcstill5.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/40b49df/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1078+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4e%2F09%2F0795c303424683b88c2bb6e0318e%2Fdriftless-cafe-dcstill5.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Some of the more than 200 organic local farmers supplying Driftless Cafe in Viroqua, Wisconsin. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Provided by Driftless Cafe</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Since 2013, he has run the farm-to-table <a class="Link" href="https://driftlesscafe.com/" target="_blank" ><u>Driftless Café </u></a>(118 W. Court St.), supplied by more than 200 organic farmers and the challenge of constant menu changes. “You don’t get an advance warning from the Amish on when they’re coming to town with food,” he laughed.</p><p>Gradually, Main Street repopulated with small, sustainability-minded businesses. In a former department store, <a class="Link" href="http://www.ewetopiafibershop.com/" target="_blank" ><u>Ewetopia</u></a> (102 S. Main St.) sells yarns it mills nearby, holds classes and offers free weekly group sessions known as knit-alongs. Down the street, <a class="Link" href="https://wonderstate.com/" target="_blank" ><u>Wonderstate Coffee</u></a>, which uses solar power to roast its beans, occupies a former 1940s filling station (302 S. Main St). A few blocks away, where former tobacco warehouses cluster near the railroad tracks, <a class="Link" href="https://driftlessbooks.com/" target="_blank" ><u>Driftless Books & Music</u></a> (518 Walnut St.), Wisconsin’s largest used bookstore, moved into the vast 1906 Viroqua Leaf Tobacco Co. building.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-2c0000" name="image-2c0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dab872d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5472x3071+0+288/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F63%2F0b%2F9b2dae054a6ca910de5a04b161cb%2Fwonderstate-coffee-3-bakery-case.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/661a7e8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5472x3071+0+288/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F63%2F0b%2F9b2dae054a6ca910de5a04b161cb%2Fwonderstate-coffee-3-bakery-case.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4ab437b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5472x3071+0+288/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F63%2F0b%2F9b2dae054a6ca910de5a04b161cb%2Fwonderstate-coffee-3-bakery-case.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Wonderstate Coffee_3-Bakery Case.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4ab437b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5472x3071+0+288/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F63%2F0b%2F9b2dae054a6ca910de5a04b161cb%2Fwonderstate-coffee-3-bakery-case.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/25e93bf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5472x3071+0+288/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F63%2F0b%2F9b2dae054a6ca910de5a04b161cb%2Fwonderstate-coffee-3-bakery-case.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4ab437b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5472x3071+0+288/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F63%2F0b%2F9b2dae054a6ca910de5a04b161cb%2Fwonderstate-coffee-3-bakery-case.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The pastry case at Wonderstate Coffee in Viroqua, Wisconsin.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Zac Dettinger/Wonderstate Coffee</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The reopening of the Hotel Fortney not only restored a central town landmark and gave travelers a unique overnight base, it has inspired other community initiatives including <a class="Link" href="https://www.liveinviroqua.com/" target="_blank" ><u>Live in Viroqua</u></a>, a summer concert series that takes place over eight dates and regularly draws 1,000 fans.</p><p>Justin Miller, the hotel’s lounge manager, launched the free series in 2022 through his nonprofit Fourth Stream, raising money from local businesses to pay for 16 bands and sound engineers seasonally. “I thought Viroqua would be a great place for it,” said Miller, “and I found some likeminded folks who thought it would be a good thing too.”</p><p><b>Other things to do:</b></p><p>Outside of Viroqua, the Driftless offers a bounty of outdoor activities including hiking at <a class="Link" href="http://kvr.state.wi.us/Home" target="_blank" ><u>Kickapoo Valley Reserve</u></a> (S3661 State Road 131, La Farge) and <a class="Link" href="https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/wildcat" target="_blank" ><u>Wildcat Mountain State Park</u></a> (E13660 State Hwy 33, Ontario).</p><p>Among scenic drives, the <a class="Link" href="https://www.windingroadsart.com/" target="_blank" ><u>Winding Roads Arts Tour</u></a> offers a self-guided drive to 20 area artist studios each June. The <a class="Link" href="https://www.vernoncountyhistory.org/" target="_blank" ><u>Vernon County Historical Society</u></a> (410 S. Center Ave.) maps out history-driven drives in the region, including an itinerary that traces the end of the Black Hawk War.</p>

<p><i>Good afternoon, and happy Thursday! Along with being dedicated to my beloved </i><a class="Link" href="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/october/1" target="_blank" ><i><u>pumpkin spice</u></i></a><i>, today is also the first day of early voting at the Downtown Chicago supersite. Here’s what else you need to know about voting in the midterms.</i></p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/government-politics/elections/2026/10/01/how-to-vote-illinois-general-election" target="_blank" ><b><u>1. Here’s how to vote in the Illinois general election</u></b></a></p><p>Early voting is underway in parts of the state, including at the Downtown Chicago supersite. Early voting starts Oct. 7 in suburban Cook County, with more locations opening Oct. 19.</p><p>For Chicagoans, at stake will be the election of a Chicago Public Schools board president — a race that features attorney Victor Henderson, former CPS principal Jessica Biggs and former CTU deputy political director Hilario Dominguez. Also on the ballot are all 20 seats for the city’s Board of Education, marking the first time the entire CPS board will be elected.</p><p>As for non-CPS races, on the ballot will be candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress, as well as Illinois governor, attorney general, comptroller, treasurer and secretary of state and the Illinois General Assembly, along with Cook County races, including board president and county commissioners. Outside of Cook, a vast array of races will appear on ballots in the collar counties.</p><p>You can see a breakdown of key dates, how to apply to vote by mail, where to vote on Election Day on Nov. 3, checking voter registration, important rules (no ballot selfies!) and other must-know details in the link. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/government-politics/elections/2026/10/01/how-to-vote-illinois-general-election" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/live/broadview-six-boutros-perry-mecklenburg-live-blog" target="_blank" ><b><u>2. ‘Broadview 6’ defendants returned to court today as a judge weighs sanctions against the feds</u></b></a></p><p>Days before four members of the group were set for trial this summer, U.S. District Judge April Perry discovered apparent misconduct by the feds that she said left her “incredibly shocked.” Prosecutors abandoned the case, but defense attorneys have since sought sanctions, causing a larger credibility crisis for the U.S. attorney’s office.</p><p>Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg is accused of three types of misconduct: speaking with grand jurors outside the grand jury room, putting her own credibility on the line to secure charges and excusing grand jurors who disagreed with the case — a claim Mecklenburg denied.</p><p>Federal prosecutors in Chicago are better known for taking on violent street gangs, potential terrorists and corrupt politicians of all stripes. In 20 years, they put two governors in prison, as well as a former U.S. House speaker who served two heartbeats away from the presidency.</p><p>But, Jon Seidel writes for the Chicago Sun-Times, the “Broadview Six” scandal threatens to do long-term damage to what’s perhaps the most highly regarded law enforcement agency in the city.</p><p>You can follow along with my colleagues’ live reporting of today’s hearing in the link. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/live/broadview-six-boutros-perry-mecklenburg-live-blog" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/arts/2026/10/01/gertrude-abercrombie-art-auction-record-chicago-painter-estate-sale-find" target="_blank" ><b><u>3. A $30 Gertrude Abercrombie estate sale find set a record at a New York art auction</u></b></a></p><p>A painting by Gertrude Abercrombie purchased for $30 at a Michigan estate sale sold at a New York art auction yesterday for $1,060,000 ($1,352,600 including the buyer’s premium), making it the first work by the individualist Chicago painter to cross the $1 million threshold.</p><p>Paintings by Abercrombie, who died at age 68 in 1977, could still be found at thrift stores until the early 2000s. But the market for her art has soared since, with buyers increasingly taken with her spare, introspective vision. The 8-by-11-inch work, titled “Alderman Merriam’s Shells” (1951), depicts an arrangement of seashells — a recurring motif in her output.</p><p>“Obviously we are over the moon about the record-setting result, and it clearly shows that the spooky sky is the limit for her prices,” said Zachary Wirsum, a senior vice president at Freeman’s auction house, alluding to the haunting feel of some of Abercrombie’s works. “What a return on a $30 investment!” [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/arts/2026/10/01/gertrude-abercrombie-art-auction-record-chicago-painter-estate-sale-find" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/09/30/dedicated-bus-lane-michigan-avenue-wacker-drive-roosevelt-road-cta" target="_blank" ><b><u>4. A dedicated bus lane is planned for a stretch of Michigan Avenue that’s one of the city’s busiest bus corridors</u></b></a></p><p>CTA President Nora Leerhsen said the street between Wacker Drive and Roosevelt Road was chosen because it is one of the CTA’s most heavily traveled bus corridors and can be heavily affected by Downtown congestion. Nearly 1,500 daily buses serve 22,000 weekday passengers along 21 routes on that segment of Michigan Avenue.</p><p>Just how much speed and reliability improve will depend in large part on enforcement through the city’s Smart Streets pilot program. Surveillance cameras installed on CTA buses, city vehicles, light poles and license plate readers will ticket motorists parking and standing in bus and bike lanes and at bus stops.</p><p>Dedicated bus lanes are painted bright red to distinguish them and alert motorists not to encroach on that space. The Chicago Department of Transportation will begin installing new signs and pavement markers this week to clearly identify the new lane. The overnight work is expected to be completed in seven to 10 days. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/09/30/dedicated-bus-lane-michigan-avenue-wacker-drive-roosevelt-road-cta" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/sports/2026/09/30/mariachi-herencia-de-mexico-chicago-bears-national-anthem" target="_blank" ><b><u>5. Mariachi Herencia de Mexico is having a moment</u></b></a></p><p>Chicago Bears third-string quarterback Case Keenum isn’t the only one basking in the glow of a magnificent performance during Monday Night Football, WBEZ’s Michael Puente writes. Grammy-nominated Mariachi Herencia de Mexico has gone viral for its performance before Monday night’s game, getting millions of views online and sparking a media frenzy.</p><p>With the 14-member group donning blue mariachi suits and bows with the Bears colors and logo, it performed a rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” inspired by Cuban American jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, marking the first time a mariachi band played the national anthem in Chicago Bears history. The locally based group was invited to perform the song as part of the Bears’ Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.</p><p>César Maldonado, who started the group in 2016 to expand the reach of mariachi music and make it available to a new generation, said he’s received supportive messages since Monday from people living everywhere from Canada to Mexico.</p><p>“This performance is extremely special ... especially if you’re Mexican or Mexican American living in this country,” Maldonado said. “I see myself in this performance, which is what I think people are responding to.” [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/sports/2026/09/30/mariachi-herencia-de-mexico-chicago-bears-national-anthem" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><b>Here’s what else is happening</b></p><ul class="rte2-style-ul" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" id="rte-e5cb0f91-bdd5-11f1-a114-c9a76a7d188c"><li>Most Americans blame Trump for high prices as his economic approval hits a new low, an AP-NORC poll shows. [<a class="Link" href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-approval-trump-midterms-8d5809758a31b29c73f4351a8008147c" target="_blank" ><u>AP</u></a>]</li><li>Here’s how evaluators test if an artificial intelligence model is safe and what they’re checking for. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.npr.org/2026/09/28/nx-s1-5974206/ai-safety-third-party-evaluators-science-lagging" target="_blank" ><u>NPR</u></a>]</li><li>The Chicago White Sox earned their first postseason-series victory in 21 years after sweeping the Houston Astros. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/09/30/white-sox-keep-their-surprising-season-going-with-wild-card-series-sweep-in-houston-chase-meidroth-jerry-reinsdorf-chris-getz-will-venable-colson-montgomery-erick-fedde" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</li><li>The Chicago Bears surprised the North Lawndale College Prep girls flag football team with new equipment and gear. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/sports/2026/09/30/chicago-bears-north-lawndale-college-prep-girls-flag-football" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</li></ul><p><b>Oh, and one more thing …</b></p><p>What keeps you up at night? Politics? Money? Climate change? Maybe something more obviously sinister, such as murderers and ghosts?</p><p>Cynthia Pelayo, a Bram Stoker Award-winning horror novelist from Chicago, asked herself and 16 fellow Latin American authors to reflect on that question for a new anthology released this week titled “Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latiné Horror.”</p><p>As my colleague Ambar Colón reports, 17 short stories and an introductory foreword begin deep into dark timelines, such as in “Her First Cruise Ship” by Ann Dávila Cardinal, where undead and rotting American tourists stumble through the capital city of Puerto Rico. The book’s foreword is written by Mexican author Brenda Lozano, and editions are available in English and Spanish through a bilingual publisher. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/books/2026/10/01/horror-anthology-something-followed-us-home-cynthia-pelayo-chicago-latino-literature-books" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p>Looking for more to read this season? Here are 10 of my colleagues’ recommendations from Chicago-area authors — including Pope Leo XIV. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/books/2026/10/01/new-books-to-read-recommendations-fall-2026" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><b>Tell me something good …</b></p><p>What’s your favorite class or workshop you’ve taken in the Chicago area?</p><p>Kyle writes:</p><p>“My wife and I took a two-hour class in block printing at the Driehaus Museum. It was great fun. Using tiny tools, you carve away what you don't want to appear in the image. Then you apply ink to your block and print as many copies as you want. I made a watering can and my wife made a rabbit. They are quite janky, but we love them anyway.”</p><p>Amy writes:</p><p>“My favorite class: Psychedelic Go-Go at the Old Town School of Folk Music. I twisted, ponied, and hully-gullied for years with a great teacher and fellow students who became lifelong friends. And I got to wear fringed minidresses and groovy white boots!”</p><p>Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.</p>

<p><i>This story was originally published in </i><a class="Link" href="https://gary.capitalbnews.org/nipsco-statehouse-committee-hearing/" target="_blank" ><i>Capital B Gary</i></a><i>.</i></p><p>The president of NIPSCO apologized to the people of Gary and others on Tuesday for not including their cities in a plan that it published to restore power days after the Aug. 11 storm.</p><p>The company did not intend to deprioritize those cities, which included Portage, Lake Station, and Griffith, but did not include them because it was still assessing their damage and was unable to offer an estimated time of restoration then, said Vince Parisi, the company’s president and chief operating officer.</p><p>“We did not want to provide an estimate that we could not substantiate. But we should have communicated that more effectively to our customers at that time and I’m sorry for any confusion that caused,” Parisi said.</p><p>Parisi offered the apology while speaking at the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday as part of lawmakers’ first public look into the storm.</p><p>The hearing revealed new insights about why Gary went without power for two to three weeks after the storm. It also presented NIPSCO’s plan for figuring out what went wrong and what they might have been able to do better. And it offered insight into some of the changes that lawmakers are considering instituting to ensure more efficient responses to future power outages.</p><p>Tempers flared at times as participants grappled with the physical and psychological toll of the storm, which left thousands of Gary residents without electricity for a prolonged period. More than 7 weeks afterward, feelings were still raw about what happened. On more than one occasion, the chair of the committee reminded speakers to keep their tone and comments respectful as they gave testimony.</p><p>Ten members of the public were allowed to speak, including five from Gary. Carolyn McCrady of Gary made the bus ride down to Indianapolis with roughly 20 other Gary and Northwest Indiana residents, and she spoke candidly during her allotted time on the House floor.</p><p>“I can tell you that people in Gary are angry,” McCrady told the audience. “Angry because our bills are too high and scared also that the next storm will cause as much or even more destruction. We are particularly worried about the coming winter months, when a blackout like the one we just experienced would threaten the very lives of many people who do not have generators or other options to survive without heat.”</p><p>The hearing follows news last week that state regulators have begun <a class="Link" href="https://gary.capitalbnews.org/nipsco-gary-power-outages-investigation/" target="_blank" >an official investigation</a> into NIPSCO’s response to the storm. That one could last years. But Parisi said the utility’s internal investigation of the storm would be complete by Thanksgiving. NIPSCO also said it was hiring a third party to conduct an independent investigation.</p><p>Still, NIPSCO’s testimony Tuesday shed more light on what went wrong. Vegetation management “wasn’t the issue” during the storm, Parisi told the committee that held the meeting, the Interim Study Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications.</p><p>Parisi said utility poles failed because they were meant to withstand 55 mph winds, not the 100 mph gusts that came with the storm. NIPSCO said 1,500 utility poles were damaged during the storm, whereas in the five previous storms, the average number of damaged poles was 90.</p><p>Gary took the brunt of the damage, ending up with more outages than any other community in Northwest Indiana, Parisi said.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-430000" name="image-430000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c1bfdec/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff5%2F55%2F5312195349afbc83935bd372db7a%2Faftergary-260827-7.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/79bb88e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff5%2F55%2F5312195349afbc83935bd372db7a%2Faftergary-260827-7.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9dfb42a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff5%2F55%2F5312195349afbc83935bd372db7a%2Faftergary-260827-7.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Volunteers clear trees in front of a home in Gary." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9dfb42a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff5%2F55%2F5312195349afbc83935bd372db7a%2Faftergary-260827-7.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8f882f9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff5%2F55%2F5312195349afbc83935bd372db7a%2Faftergary-260827-7.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9dfb42a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff5%2F55%2F5312195349afbc83935bd372db7a%2Faftergary-260827-7.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Volunteers clear trees in front of a home on Van Buren Street near 20th Place in Gary, Ind., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Asked by a senator how many poles fell because trees pulled down power lines versus how many were snapped by the wind, Parisi said he didn’t have that data and has yet to look at the age of the poles that failed.</p><p>A Gary resident who spoke during the public comment period contested Parisi’s narrative that overgrown trees did not contribute to power outages.</p><p>“I’ve been in my home for 15 years now, and NIPSCO has never come out [to trim trees],” Sherry Smith, 65, told Capital B Gary. “I have a huge NIPSCO pole and heavy trees in my yard.”</p><p>NIPSCO is also facing a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing the company of negligent vegetation management. The lawsuit, <a class="Link" href="https://dockets.justia.com/docket/indiana/inndce/2:2026cv00459/130025" target="_blank" >Tipold v. NIPSCO</a>, was moved last week at the utility’s request from Porter County to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana in Hammond.</p><p>Ryan Baker, president of United Steelworkers Local 12775, which represents NIPSCO workers, testified that the utility’s staffing choices contributed to the prolonged power outage in Northwest Indiana. With 183 linemen, NIPSCO has fewer than at any time in the past 15 years, he said. The company has lost 50 linemen since 2020, he added.</p><p>“As we’ve seen staffing levels decrease, we’re finding it harder and harder to get our two resources matched up,” Baker explained. “So there may be line crews to restore the circuit, [but] there’s not a substation electrician available to restore the service, or vice versa. You may have the substation electrician available at one of the sites, but not a line crew to finish the assessing and repair work.”</p><p>During the recovery period immediately following the storm, NIPSCO contracted with electric crews from across the South and Midwest to repair the lines. Parisi told lawmakers NIPSCO relies on contract crews at times “for affordability reasons.” Baker said contractors usually cost more, and those costs get passed on to ratepayers.</p><p>Parisi’s apology was the second one the company gave to Gary about the list. The first apology came during a <a class="Link" href="https://gary.capitalbnews.org/gary-power-outage-nipsco-restoration-august-25/" target="_blank" >press conference</a> involving Melody Birmingham, executive vice president and utilities group president for NIPSCO parent company NiSource Inc.</p><p>Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, a former NIPSCO employee, asked lawmakers to require utilities statewide to provide restoration estimates for all communities. (Calvin Davis/Capital B)Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, a former NIPSCO employee, asked lawmakers to require utilities statewide to provide restoration estimates for all communities so that local officials can keep residents informed.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-ac0000" name="image-ac0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/23e9748/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5208x2923+0+276/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1f%2Fd3%2F849765ab45fe86caac3e25243075%2Fgarystormsgovernor-260901-16.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/26fbfa8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5208x2923+0+276/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1f%2Fd3%2F849765ab45fe86caac3e25243075%2Fgarystormsgovernor-260901-16.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/61277e4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5208x2923+0+276/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1f%2Fd3%2F849765ab45fe86caac3e25243075%2Fgarystormsgovernor-260901-16.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Mayor of Gary Eddie Melton" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/61277e4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5208x2923+0+276/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1f%2Fd3%2F849765ab45fe86caac3e25243075%2Fgarystormsgovernor-260901-16.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fbad5f0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5208x2923+0+276/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1f%2Fd3%2F849765ab45fe86caac3e25243075%2Fgarystormsgovernor-260901-16.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/61277e4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5208x2923+0+276/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1f%2Fd3%2F849765ab45fe86caac3e25243075%2Fgarystormsgovernor-260901-16.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Mayor of Gary Eddie Melton listens to Gov. Mike Braun speak about the power outage affecting northwest Indiana at the Gary Red Cross Shelter at Hudson Campbell Sports & Fitness Center at 455 Massachusetts St. in Gary, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>As an update, Melton said the city has cleared 75% to 80% of an estimated 280,000 cubic yards of tree debris at an estimated cost of $8 million. He cited ongoing hardships such as residents who cannot afford to remove trees from the tops of their homes as well as a small restaurant that sustained nearly $19,000 in damages and lost revenue.</p><p>No new legislation was proposed Tuesday, but lawmakers discussed possibly requiring utilities to maintain sufficient staffing and to provide more precise, community-specific restoration estimates during a power outage.</p><p>State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, who represents portions of Hammond, near the Illinois border, said ComEd customers just across State Line Road had their power back much earlier than Indiana residents.</p><p>“How is it that one state can be so much better prepared when the storm was just as bad over there as it was here?”</p>

<p>Chris Gerben grew up in the metro Detroit area in the 1980s and ’90s, and even as a child, he noticed a lot of major shifts in the city.</p><p>“We were a steel mill town, and in the mid ’80s is when a lot of this kind of emptying-out of the city was happening,” Gerben said.</p><p>He remembers going to at least three different elementary schools because teachers kept getting laid off.</p><p>From the peak of Detroit’s auto industry until Gerben was born, roughly three decades, the city lost over 200,000 jobs — more than during the Great Depression. It also lost more than half a million people.</p><p>Gerben now lives with his family in Chicago, and he wonders if what happened in Detroit happened across the Midwest in the same way. How did deindustrialization hit Milwaukee? And why was Chicago seemingly spared?</p><p>“If you don't know any better … it would seem like, ‘Oh, [Chicago] is privileged in some way,’” Gerben said.</p><p>Deindustrialization shaped the Midwest in ways seen and unseen. We look back at how things differed across cities when it came to the industries that built them up and how each city dealt with the fall out of losing so much.</p><h3><b>The Motor City</b></h3><p>More than a century ago, the “Big Three” automakers — General Motors, Ford and Chrysler — made a home in Detroit, which led to more cars being built in the Motor City than anywhere in the world.</p><p>These factory jobs attracted the first wave of the Great Migration — African Americans leaving the rural South for the urban North, starting in the 1910s — as well as immigrant workers. Marsha Battle-Fillpot said her dad, Joe Von Battle, was one of those early workers coming up from Georgia.</p><p>“The auto industry here allowed for a relative prosperity that was unprecedented,” Battle-Fillpot says. “It’s sort of not viewed like that, with all the bells and whistles of, say, a New York, but this place is no joke.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-080000" name="image-080000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1e3082c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2449x1374+0+1137/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F23%2Fbe38152746d2ad5120327ecfb2a9%2Fimg-1313.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/595cc53/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2449x1374+0+1137/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F23%2Fbe38152746d2ad5120327ecfb2a9%2Fimg-1313.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c90857b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2449x1374+0+1137/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F23%2Fbe38152746d2ad5120327ecfb2a9%2Fimg-1313.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="IMG_1313.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c90857b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2449x1374+0+1137/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F23%2Fbe38152746d2ad5120327ecfb2a9%2Fimg-1313.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/92ccb17/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2449x1374+0+1137/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F23%2Fbe38152746d2ad5120327ecfb2a9%2Fimg-1313.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c90857b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2449x1374+0+1137/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe2%2F23%2Fbe38152746d2ad5120327ecfb2a9%2Fimg-1313.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>A portrait of Marsha Battle-Fillpot.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Jimmy Gutierrez/WUWM</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Von Battle was laid off from the auto plant when white workers returned to the factory after World War II. This gave rise to the axiom “last hired, first fired” with regard to Black workers.</p><p>“He was so despondent about [facing] a reversal like that, he vowed at that point he would never work for another man,” Battle-Fillpot said.</p><p>With the prosperity of the auto industry lifting all boats, Von Battle decided to start his own business. In 1945, he opened Joe’s Record Shop in the city’s historic Black Bottom neighborhood. It was an instant hit: In the first two years, he had over $100,000 worth of records in stock.</p><p>But in the ’50s, the Big Three started pulling out of the city, moving to the suburbs for cheaper land.</p><p>This began well before the “<a class="Link" href="https://beltmag.com/detroit-67-rebellion-matters-now/" target="_blank" ><u>Rebellion of ’67</u></a>,” five days of racial unrest in late July 1967 during which 43 people died, hundreds reported injuries and police arrested more than 7,000 people.</p><p>“There’s a whole narrative that says that, well, Detroit was basically doing okay until 1967 and all the whites left, and then Detroit fell into decline,” Battle-Fillpot said. “That’s just so wrong-headed. There’s no statistics that bear that out.”</p><p>In over 20 years since opening, Joe’s Record Shop became a symbol of Black art and opportunity that defined the time. During the Rebellion, it was looted.</p><p>“When my father walked back into that store … and he saw the destruction, I really say that my dad really died then,” Battle-Fillpot said. “He tried to reopen after that, even, but he was just unable to gather it back altogether.”</p><p>Today, headquarters for the Big Three automakers are still in metro Detroit, but jobs in the city never bounced back.</p><h3><b>‘The Machine Shop of the World’</b></h3><p>The story of industry and its demise echoed in Milwaukee, the home of beer and brewing, heavy manufacturing, and iron and steel, also called ‘The Machine Shop of the World’. There, industry here was more diverse than Detroit, which went all-in on the auto industry. With a bustling port and growing rail system, Milwaukee was critical to the economy of the Wisconsin region.</p><p>“‘Blue-collar’ in Milwaukee meant middle class,” says Adam Carr, a public historian and artist in the city. “That’s entwined with the history of socialism here, that the worker was not a chump in Milwaukee.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-290000" name="image-290000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ed6b3f6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2610x1465+0+725/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa1%2F3a%2Fa7297dbe4c4aabc48b3193d547e2%2Fimg-1233.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c177982/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2610x1465+0+725/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa1%2F3a%2Fa7297dbe4c4aabc48b3193d547e2%2Fimg-1233.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/254fb17/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2610x1465+0+725/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa1%2F3a%2Fa7297dbe4c4aabc48b3193d547e2%2Fimg-1233.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="IMG_1233.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/254fb17/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2610x1465+0+725/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa1%2F3a%2Fa7297dbe4c4aabc48b3193d547e2%2Fimg-1233.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e81693a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2610x1465+0+725/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa1%2F3a%2Fa7297dbe4c4aabc48b3193d547e2%2Fimg-1233.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/254fb17/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2610x1465+0+725/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa1%2F3a%2Fa7297dbe4c4aabc48b3193d547e2%2Fimg-1233.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Public historian Adam Carr at Three Bridges Park in Milwaukee.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Jimmy Gutierrez/WUWM</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>An image that, for Carr, exemplifies the city’s indigenous roots, its peak in industry and the decline is Three Bridges Park — an old brownfield turned into a sprawling park, filled with walking paths built over a freeway that cut through the city.</p><p>The loss of jobs and wealth in Milwaukee, specifically <a class="Link" href="https://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/featured/reggie-jackson-impact-deindustrialization-milwaukees-inner-city/" target="_blank" ><u>Black and Latino Milwaukee</u></a>, went down just like in Detroit. Urban renewal brought in freeways but also displaced families in lower income neighborhoods. Redlining discriminatorily shut people out of certain neighborhoods. This stunted generational wealth, a history the city is still dealing with. Like Detroit, industry jobs never bounced back.</p><p>“I heard someone say, ‘Pie in the sky in Milwaukee was the factory job,’” Carr remembers. “We thought the gravy train would never end. And I think we haven’t found exactly who we are after industry yet.”</p><h3><b>The Second City</b></h3><p>In Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood, built on a graveyard of old industry, you’ll find the University of Illinois Chicago’s Cuppa Hall and the Great Cities Institute.</p><p>Associate director Matt Wilson studies the long shadow of deindustrialization in Chicago. He says historically, the city had a lot of the same advantages as Milwaukee and Detroit: natural resources, a bustling port. What separated Chicago was the rail system — and as the country pushed west, Chicago became a major hub.</p><p>“Chicago still has that identity of the crossroads. A lot of goods flow through here,” Wilson says. “It’s really easy, when you go on the river, to see barge traffic, and when you go to any of the ports that are around the city, you see the large-scale movement of goods.”</p><p>Industry varied in Chicago. The famous Union Stock Yards was considered the meatpacking center of the world. Then, in the 1980s, the city pivoted.</p><p>“Chicago needs to compete with other cities to attract jobs in corporate headquarters,” Wilson says. “It needs to bring in tourism and make sure all the hotels are filled and that there's a nightlife.”</p><p>Tax incentives and tax dollars were funneled to rebuild Downtown, though not other parts of the city.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-070000" name="image-070000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a1c32a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe1%2F42%2F2373af804ceab8e2bd487333d41a%2Fpullman-090421-36.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cf95a8a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe1%2F42%2F2373af804ceab8e2bd487333d41a%2Fpullman-090421-36.JPG 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33ae70b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe1%2F42%2F2373af804ceab8e2bd487333d41a%2Fpullman-090421-36.JPG" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="PULLMAN-090421-36.JPG" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33ae70b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe1%2F42%2F2373af804ceab8e2bd487333d41a%2Fpullman-090421-36.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7d7481a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe1%2F42%2F2373af804ceab8e2bd487333d41a%2Fpullman-090421-36.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33ae70b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3367+0+316/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe1%2F42%2F2373af804ceab8e2bd487333d41a%2Fpullman-090421-36.JPG" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Pullman National Monument Visitor Center is seen in this photo in the Pullman neighborhood in 2021. The historic factory was transformed into the centerpiece of the Pullman National Historical Park.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“The neighborhood of South Chicago, on the southeast side of the city, it feels like [it’s] from the historical archives I’ve read, that the center of gravity was the steel plant,” Wilson says.</p><p>Until the early 2000s, that included Pressed Steel, Republic Steel, Wisconsin Steel and the big one, U.S. Steel. These plants were the source of middle-class employment, which stabilized the housing market and both retail and commercial businesses.</p><p>“Both my grandfathers worked [in the plants]. My dad worked there and I worked there,” says Michael Lisecki, who grew up in South Chicago. “It was like everybody worked in one of the mills, whether it was U.S., Wisconsin. It was devastating when we all got laid off.”</p><p>Lisecki started working in the mills in 1978 when he was 18, making better money than he ever dreamed possible. Three years later, he was laid off and the neighborhood was never the same.</p><p>Chicago pivoted to a post-industry chapter earlier than Detroit and Milwaukee. But no matter the city, deindustrialization left a hole, and it’s clear the bones of the past are still with us.</p><p><i>Curious Midwest is a limited series collaboration with Curious City, </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.wuwm.com/bubblertalk" target="_blank" ><i><u>Bubbler Talk at WUWM</u></i></a><i> in Milwaukee and </i><a class="Link" href="https://wdet.org/podcasts/curiosid-podcast/" target="_blank" ><i><u>CuriosiD at WDET</u></i></a><i> in Detroit. It answers listener questions about the connections between the three cities.</i></p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-750000" name="html-embed-module-750000"></a><script async src="https://modules.wearehearken.com/wbez/embed/4190.js"></script> </div> </div><p></p>

<p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/art/2026/09/30/gertrude-abercrombie-auction-alderman-merriams-shells" >A painting by Gertrude Abercrombie</a> purchased for $30 at a Michigan estate sale sold Thursday at a New York art auction for $1,060,000 ($1,352,600 including the buyer’s premium), making it the first-ever work by the individualist Chicago painter to cross the $1 million threshold.</p><p>Paintings by Abercrombie, who died at age 68 in 1977, could still be found at thrift stores until the early 2000s. But the market for her art has soared since, with buyers increasingly taken with her spare, introspective vision. The 8-by-11-inch work, titled “Alderman Merriam’s Shells” (1951), depicts an arrangement of sea shells — a recurring motif in her output.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-350000" name="image-350000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8ec51eb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+167/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F84%2Fde%2Fe800c95f4c5d832dc56ca548874b%2Falderman-merriams-shells-1951-lede.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cd84f92/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+167/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F84%2Fde%2Fe800c95f4c5d832dc56ca548874b%2Falderman-merriams-shells-1951-lede.png 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/96ce428/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+167/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F84%2Fde%2Fe800c95f4c5d832dc56ca548874b%2Falderman-merriams-shells-1951-lede.png" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="“Alderman Merriam’s Shells” (1951) by Gertrude Abercrombie" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/96ce428/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+167/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F84%2Fde%2Fe800c95f4c5d832dc56ca548874b%2Falderman-merriams-shells-1951-lede.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/357337c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+167/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F84%2Fde%2Fe800c95f4c5d832dc56ca548874b%2Falderman-merriams-shells-1951-lede.png 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/96ce428/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2000x1122+0+167/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F84%2Fde%2Fe800c95f4c5d832dc56ca548874b%2Falderman-merriams-shells-1951-lede.png" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Gertrude Abercrombie’s newly uncovered work “Alderman Merriam’s Shells” (1951) set a record at an auction.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Courtesy of Freeman’s</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“Obviously, we are over the moon about the record-setting result, and it clearly shows that the spooky sky is the limit for her prices,” Zachary Wirsum, a senior vice president at Freeman’s auction house, said via email, alluding to the haunting feel of some of Abercrombie’s works. “What a return on a $30 investment!”</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/art/2026/09/30/gertrude-abercrombie-auction-alderman-merriams-shells" >Gertrude in a garage: A $30 Michigan estate sale find heads to major art auction Thursday</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>A picker who wishes to remain anonymous discovered the painting in July at a Michigan estate sale while in search of albums and midcentury furniture. But in a hallway leading to the garage, he stumbled on to something else: a small painting that depicted ten shells.</p><p>Intrigued, he took a chance on it, paying $30.<br>Then, after some initial research, he altered a family vacation to visit a touring Abercrombie retrospective, “The Whole World is a Mystery,” that happened to be on view at the Milwaukee Art Museum this past summer.</p><p>While there, he found a photograph of “Alderman Merriam’s Shells” in the exhibition catalog that was featured alongside a 1952 Chicago Tribune review of the artist’s exhibition at the Newman Brown Gallery. The image even showed the actual shells that are depicted in the work.</p><p>The final authentication of the work came from Susan Weininger, a professor emerita of art history at Roosevelt University and an expert on Abercrombie. The painting had been originally traded to a doctor in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for medical services, and it remained in his collection until the estate sale.</p><p>A native of Texas and the daughter of opera singers, Abercrombie spent most of her life in Chicago. Her undergraduate degree was in romance languages, but she also studied commercial art at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and won awards in 1936 and 1938 in annual exhibitions of Chicago-area artists featured at the Art Institute of Chicago.</p><p>In 1948, she married her second husband, music critic Frank Sandiford, with Dizzy Gillespie performing at their wedding. They lived a bohemian lifestyle in which jazz artists like Sonny Rollins, Max Roach and Jackie Cain came for jam sessions in the couple’s Hyde Park home.</p><p>Abercrombie did have some solo shows, but she mostly sold her work at art fairs and through a gallery at Marshall Field’s department store. The artist had what Wirsum called a “cult following” among local artists and collectors but gained little in the way of national acclaim in her lifetime.<br></p>

<p>The primary elections in March featured several challenges to Democratic incumbents in the General Assembly, but now that the general election Nov. 3 is almost here many politicians are running unopposed.</p><p>There are still some hotly contested races in the suburbs. However, Democrats appear unlikely to be unseated from their big majorities in the Illinois Senate and Illinois House.</p><p>After the election, lawmakers are expected to meet Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3 for the fall veto session and then the new senators and representatives will head to Springfield for their regular spring session in January.</p><p>Here's what to know.</p><h3>What is the General Assembly?</h3><p>The Illinois General Assembly meets at the state Capitol in Springfield every January to debate and vote on proposed laws, adjourning in May or June. There are 118 members of the Illinois House of Representatives and 59 members of the Illinois Senate.</p><p>Democrats make up 78 of the seats in the Illinois House, giving them a strong majority. All state representatives serve two-year terms with elections on even-numbered years, meaning all the seats are up for a vote in November.</p><p>Illinois Senate races, on the other hand, are staggered. There are 39 seats up for election this year. Similar to the House, Democrats have a super-majority in the Senate, controlling 40 seats to Republicans' 19.</p><p>To locate your state Senate and House districts and learn who is representing you in Springfield, go <a class="Link" href="https://www.elections.il.gov/electionoperations/districtlocator/districtofficialsearchbyaddress.aspx" target="_blank" >here on the Illinois State Board of Elections website</a>. It will also provide information about other political office holders.</p><p>Democrats see opportunities to pick up additional seats, though it likely will only pad their overwhelming dominance in the legislature, something they’ve enjoyed since 2019.</p><p>More than a quarter of the members of the Illinois General Assembly represent Chicago or portions of the city, and the vast majority are Democrats.</p><p>Democratic committees are spending to turn more seats.</p><h3>What are some key races Nov. 3?</h3><p>Several suburban races for Springfield lawmakers are shaping up to be highly competitive fights heading into the Nov. 3 election.</p><p>Among the most interesting races, Rep. Nabeela Syed, a Democrat, is challenging incumbent state Sen. Darby Hills, a Republican appointed to the seat, for the 26th District senate seat. The northwest suburban district includes parts of Cook, Lake, McHenry and Kane counties.</p><p>Syed is completing her second term in the Illinois House after graduating from the University of California Berkeley, while Hills is completing the term of Dan McConchie, who resigned to take a job with a nonprofit organization.</p><p>In September alone, the state Democratic Party and a committee led by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon — with the aim of bolstering Democrats' majority — contributed almost $1 million to Syed. Republican political committees contributed almost $80,000 to Hills in September after giving her more than $300,000 in August.</p><p>In the north suburban Illinois House 52nd District, Democrats see a chance to unseat Republican Martin McLaughlin, who faces Maria Peterson in a rematch. In 2024, McLaughlin eked out a victory against Peterson, beating her by fewer than 50 votes.</p><p>In another rematch a little further from Chicago in north central Illinois, Republican Liz Bishop is challenging incumbent Democrat Amy “Murri” Briel for the 76th House District seat in a race that includes salacious allegations against Briel.</p><p>Bishop, who lost to Briel in 2024 by less than 600 votes, has called out Briel’s character and released a video interview with a former staffer alleging that Briel sexually harassed the woman, fed her a prescription stimulant drug and smoked pot while performing legislative duties.</p><p>Briel denies the allegations and points to a statehouse watchdog investigation that concluded the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/2026/08/20/amy-briel-laura-jackson-chris-welch-lig-investigation-harassment" >allegations were unfounded.</a></p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-830000" name="module-830000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3>What to Know - Races We’re Watching</h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-9992ee02-bd07-11f1-93ab-21195d7ab2fe"><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-us-senate-race-juliana-stratton-don-tracy-dick-durbin" ><b>U.S. Senate</b></a>: Juliana Stratton, Don Tracy</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-4th-congressional-district-patty-garcia-chris-getty-lupe-castillo-ed-hershey-us-rep-jesus-chuy-garcia" ><b>U.S. Congress (4th District)</b></a>: Lupe Castillo, Patty García, Chris Getty, Ed Hershey</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-llinois-governor-race-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-collin-corbett" ><b>Governor</b></a>: Darren Bailey, Collin Corbett, JB Pritzker</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-candidates-race-illinois-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-bob-fioretti" ><b>Illinois Attorney General</b></a>: Robert Fioretti, Kwame Raoul</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-comptroller-race-bryan-drew-state-rep-margaret-croke" ><b>Illinois Comptroller</b></a>: Margaret Croke, Bryan Drew </li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-secretary-of-state-race-alexi-giannoulias-diane-harris" ><b>Illinois Secretary of State</b></a>: Alexi Giannoulias, Diane M. Harris</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-97th-house-district-race-jessica-dixon-heitman-gabby-shanahan" ><b>Illinois House (District 97)</b></a>: Jessica Dixon Heitman, Gabby Shanahan</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/illinois-statehouse-elections-november-3-senate-house-general-assembly-what-to-know" ><b>More Illinois House Races</b></a></li></ul></div> </div><p></p>

<p>Appointed state Rep. Jessica Dixon Heitman, D-Plainfield, seeks election to a full term against Republican nominee Gabby Shanahan, who narrowly lost in 2024 to ex-state Rep. Harry Benton before his resignation amid sexual harassment allegations.</p><h3><b>What’s important about this race?</b></h3><p>This far southwest suburban district provides one of the few competitive races on Illinois’ heavily gerrymandered political map, and it’s at the center of the latest sexual harassment scandal to <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/springfield/2026/08/05/welch-benton-harassment-working-group-cassidy" target="_blank" ><u>rattle Springfield</u></a>.</p><p>Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch knew of a complaint against Benton shortly after the ex-lawmaker took office in 2023, but the speaker still directed $1.4 million to Benton’s reelection campaign.</p><p>Facing complaints from two more women, Benton resigned this summer, admitting no wrongdoing. Will and Kendall county party leaders appointed Dixon Heitman to fill his seat.</p><h3><b>What do state representatives do?</b></h3><p>Members of the Illinois House propose and vote on bills to become state law, advocating for resources for their districts.</p><h3><b>Who is Jessica Dixon Heitman?</b></h3><p>Dixon Heitman is a Democratic former statehouse media relations staffer and a public relations consultant who briefly worked as a contract employee in Benton’s office, but left after noticing “red flags” in his behavior, she <a class="Link" href="https://fwrnews.com/2026/07/21/38732/" target="_blank" ><u>has said</u></a>.</p><p>She’s also a granddaughter of the late former U.S. Sen. Alan Dixon.</p><h3><b>Who is Gabby Shanahan?</b></h3><p>Shanahan is a Republican court-appointed special advocate for children in the Kendall County court system, and a former member of the Kendall County Board of Health.</p><p>In 2024, she lost to Benton by about four percentage points in a district that supported Kamala Harris by roughly the same margin over President Donald Trump in that year's election.</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-9d0000" name="module-9d0000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3>What to Know - Races We’re Watching</h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-9992ee02-bd07-11f1-93ab-21195d7ab2fe"><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-us-senate-race-juliana-stratton-don-tracy-dick-durbin" ><b>U.S. Senate</b></a>: Juliana Stratton, Don Tracy</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-4th-congressional-district-patty-garcia-chris-getty-lupe-castillo-ed-hershey-us-rep-jesus-chuy-garcia" ><b>U.S. Congress (4th District)</b></a>: Lupe Castillo, Patty García, Chris Getty, Ed Hershey</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-llinois-governor-race-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-collin-corbett" ><b>Governor</b></a>: Darren Bailey, Collin Corbett, JB Pritzker</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-candidates-race-illinois-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-bob-fioretti" ><b>Illinois Attorney General</b></a>: Robert Fioretti, Kwame Raoul</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-comptroller-race-bryan-drew-state-rep-margaret-croke" ><b>Illinois Comptroller</b></a>: Margaret Croke, Bryan Drew </li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-secretary-of-state-race-alexi-giannoulias-diane-harris" ><b>Illinois Secretary of State</b></a>: Alexi Giannoulias, Diane M. Harris</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-97th-house-district-race-jessica-dixon-heitman-gabby-shanahan" ><b>Illinois House (District 97)</b></a>: Jessica Dixon Heitman, Gabby Shanahan</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/illinois-statehouse-elections-november-3-senate-house-general-assembly-what-to-know" ><b>More Illinois House Races</b></a></li></ul></div> </div><p></p>

<p>In the Illinois comptroller’s race, incumbent Susana Mendoza decided to put her efforts solely into the Chicago mayor’s race, leaving uncontested Republican Bryan Drew to face state Rep. Margaret Croke (D-12th) in the race for the state’s <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/02/06/what-to-know-about-illinois-comptroller-primary" target="_blank" ><u>chief financial office</u></a>.</p><h3>What does the state comptroller do?</h3><p>The Illinois comptroller is the state’s chief financial officer. The office manages the state’s fiscal accounts, records all transactions, pays bills and reviews all expenditures and contracts. The comptroller also chairs the State Employees’ Retirement System Board and sits on the Illinois State Board of Investment, helping manage pensions for state employees. The comptroller also issues financial reports about the state’s fiscal affairs. In addition to managing the state’s finances, the office regulates cemeteries and handles the fiduciary protection of cemetery funds meant for the maintenance of grave sites in Illinois.</p><h3>Who is Margaret Croke, the Democratic candidate?</h3><p>Croke is a Chicago area state representative from Lincoln Park billing herself as a moderate Democrat. She says she wants to help modernize the office by creating a transparency system in which residents can see the path of public dollars from appropriation to payment, as well as moving the regulation of funeral home licensing solely under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.</p><p>Croke — who was backed by a contingent of Springfield Democrats, including Gov. JB Pritzker — <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/03/17/illinois-comptroller-democratic-primary-results" target="_blank" ><u>landed nearly 35% of the vote</u></a> in a four-way race during the March 17 Democratic primary, beating out more progressive candidates with boosts from <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/03/19/margaret-croke-democratic-primary-victory-illinois-comptroller-karina-villa-stephanie-kifowit-holly-kim" target="_blank" ><u>suburban and downstate counties</u></a>. She <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/03/19/margaret-croke-democratic-primary-victory-illinois-comptroller-karina-villa-stephanie-kifowit-holly-kim" target="_blank" ><u>raised $1.8 million in the primary</u></a>.</p><p>She has pointed to her statehouse ties as a positive, as well as her time on the House Revenue and Finance Committee and as chair of the Financial Institutions Committee.</p><p>“My experience has given me a deep understanding of how the public sector ecosystem works, which will help ensure that the most fiscally sound decisions are being made on behalf of taxpayers and those who are most in need,” Croke said in response to a Sun-Times candidate questionnaire.</p><h3>Who is Bryan Drew, the Republican candidate?</h3><p>Drew is a private attorney and cafe owner from downstate Benton. He ended the first quarter of fundraising with just more than $54,000. He and Mendoza have both criticized Croke for taking money from Pritzker and billionaire business executive Michael Sacks, questioning her independence given the donations. After the March primary, Drew said Croke is Pritzker’s “hand-picked candidate” and called her endorsements from the governor and Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Illinois speaker of the house, a “conflict of interest.”</p><p>“My opponent won’t hold any of these politicians accountable, not when she wants to keep climbing the political ladder. Illinoisans deserve better,” Drew <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/03/19/margaret-croke-democratic-primary-victory-illinois-comptroller-karina-villa-stephanie-kifowit-holly-kim" >said in March</a>.</p><p>"Though limited in his experience in state government and finance," Capitol News Illinois <a class="Link" href="https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/replacing-mendoza-candidates-vie-to-be-states-first-new-comptroller-in-a-decade/" target="_blank" >wrote this week</a>, "Drew said owning a cafe with his wife has exposed him to the impact of high taxes on small businesses. He said he would use the 'bully pulpit' of the office to act as a watchdog for taxpayers."</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-fe0000" name="module-fe0000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3>What to Know - Races We’re Watching</h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-9992ee02-bd07-11f1-93ab-21195d7ab2fe"><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-us-senate-race-juliana-stratton-don-tracy-dick-durbin" ><b>U.S. Senate</b></a>: Juliana Stratton, Don Tracy</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-4th-congressional-district-patty-garcia-chris-getty-lupe-castillo-ed-hershey-us-rep-jesus-chuy-garcia" ><b>U.S. Congress (4th District)</b></a>: Lupe Castillo, Patty García, Chris Getty, Ed Hershey</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-llinois-governor-race-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-collin-corbett" ><b>Governor</b></a>: Darren Bailey, Collin Corbett, JB Pritzker</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-candidates-race-illinois-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-bob-fioretti" ><b>Illinois Attorney General</b></a>: Robert Fioretti, Kwame Raoul</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-comptroller-race-bryan-drew-state-rep-margaret-croke" ><b>Illinois Comptroller</b></a>: Margaret Croke, Bryan Drew </li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-secretary-of-state-race-alexi-giannoulias-diane-harris" ><b>Illinois Secretary of State</b></a>: Alexi Giannoulias, Diane M. Harris</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-97th-house-district-race-jessica-dixon-heitman-gabby-shanahan" ><b>Illinois House (District 97)</b></a>: Jessica Dixon Heitman, Gabby Shanahan</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/illinois-statehouse-elections-november-3-senate-house-general-assembly-what-to-know" ><b>More Illinois House Races</b></a></li></ul></div> </div><p></p>

<p>Former two-term 2nd Ward Ald. Bob Fioretti has a challenge on his hands in his run against Kwame Raoul, the Democratic incumbent Illinois attorney general since 2019, who won his last two elections by a more than 11-point margin.</p><h3>What does the attorney general do in Illinois?</h3><p>Much like its federal counterpart, the <a class="Link" href="https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/about/" target="_blank" >state attorney general’s role</a> involves both advocacy and litigation on behalf of the state and its residents. This includes anything from consumer protection to working with legislators and managing statewide law enforcement. </p><h3>Who is the incumbent, Kwame Raoul?</h3><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2025/05/23/illinois-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-fight-against-donald-trump" >Raoul</a>, the son of Haitian immigrants, started his career as a senior staff attorney for the City Colleges of Chicago, then was a prosecutor with the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. He was a state senator for 14 years, initially appointed to fill the seat left open when Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate. Raoul was first elected attorney general in 2018.</p><p>During his current term, Raoul has joined <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/donald-trump/2026/01/20/trump-one-year-kwame-raoul-illinois-lawsuits-jb-pritzker" >numerous lawsuits</a>, some involving multiple attorneys general office across states, over issues such as the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/money/2026/08/03/illinois-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-lawsuit-trump-tariffs" >Trump administration’s tariffs</a>, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/technology/2026/08/26/meta-illinois-pay-nearly-768-million-multistate-settlement-teen-social-media-addiction" >social media addiction</a> in kids, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/02/11/federal-cuts-hiv-lead-poisoning-prevention-grants-raoul" >cuts to public health grants</a> and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/08/26/illinois-ag-kwame-raoul-lawsuit-postal-service-mail-ballot-rule-midterm-elections" >preserving access to mail-in ballots</a>.</p><h3>Who is challenger Bob Fioretti?</h3><p>Fioretti served as alderman for Chicago's 2nd Ward from 2007 to 2015. He trained as a civil rights attorney and has run for a number of offices since leaving City Council, including unsuccessfully twice for mayor and Cook County state’s attorney, as well as a failed bid at Cook County Board president. </p><p>Fioretti has pointed to unnamed corruption and crime as reason for needing to shake things up in the office, <a class="Link" href="https://www.bobforillinois.com/post/robert-fioretti-a-new-vision-for-illinois-justice" target="_blank" ><u>citing</u></a> his courtroom experience with City Hall's corporation counsel office, plus his time as an assistant Illinois attorney general and alderman, as qualifications for the state’s highest legal officer.</p><h3>What makes the attorney general’s office in Illinois stand out?</h3><p>The Trump administration's moves against Illinois has elevated the attorney general's role to defender of the state’s federal funds. Raoul has filed dozens of lawsuits to protect Illinois from federal funding cutbacks. Raoul, along with other states’ attorneys general, has successfully won the release of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/09/24/illinois-wins-suit-on-disaster-relief-funding-held-by-dhs-over-sanctuary-laws" target="_blank" ><u>$2 billion in federal disaster relief funding</u></a> and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2025/11/04/judge-blocks-trump-administration-transportation-funds" target="_blank" ><u>federal transportation funding</u></a> after the Trump White House held up the money over immigration enforcement.</p><p>Other lawsuits from Raoul's office have restored <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/01/06/appeals-court-kwame-raoul-trump-administration-medical-research" target="_blank" ><u>medical research funding</u></a> cut by the Trump administration and r<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/09/04/illinois-joins-lawsuit-against-second-trump-admin-push-to-cut-federal-funding-for-youth-gender-affirming-care" target="_blank" ><u>eversed a Trump administration attempt</u></a> to cut federal funding from medical institutions providing gender-affirming care to patients under 19.</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-c20000" name="module-c20000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3>What to Know - Races We’re Watching</h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-9992ee02-bd07-11f1-93ab-21195d7ab2fe"><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-us-senate-race-juliana-stratton-don-tracy-dick-durbin" ><b>U.S. Senate</b></a>: Juliana Stratton, Don Tracy</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-4th-congressional-district-patty-garcia-chris-getty-lupe-castillo-ed-hershey-us-rep-jesus-chuy-garcia" ><b>U.S. Congress (4th District)</b></a>: Lupe Castillo, Patty García, Chris Getty, Ed Hershey</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-llinois-governor-race-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-collin-corbett" ><b>Governor</b></a>: Darren Bailey, Collin Corbett, JB Pritzker</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-candidates-race-illinois-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-bob-fioretti" ><b>Illinois Attorney General</b></a>: Robert Fioretti, Kwame Raoul</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-comptroller-race-bryan-drew-state-rep-margaret-croke" ><b>Illinois Comptroller</b></a>: Margaret Croke, Bryan Drew </li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-secretary-of-state-race-alexi-giannoulias-diane-harris" ><b>Illinois Secretary of State</b></a>: Alexi Giannoulias, Diane M. Harris</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-97th-house-district-race-jessica-dixon-heitman-gabby-shanahan" ><b>Illinois House (District 97)</b></a>: Jessica Dixon Heitman, Gabby Shanahan</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/illinois-statehouse-elections-november-3-senate-house-general-assembly-what-to-know" ><b>More Illinois House Races</b></a></li></ul></div> </div><p></p>

<p>In recent years, Illinois’ statewide races have often been decided in the primaries. The 2026 secretary of state’s race is complicated by the fact that incumbent Alexi Giannoulias is also a frontrunner in Chicago's 2027 mayoral election. If he wins both races, it would allow Gov. JB Pritzker to <a class="Link" href="https://lrb.ilga.gov/Commission/lrb/con5.htm" target="_blank" ><u>appoint a secretary of state for a full term</u></a>.</p><h3>What does the secretary of state do in Illinois?</h3><p>The office has nothing to do with diplomacy — instead, the state secretary of state is all about <a class="Link" href="https://www.ilsos.gov/about-us.html" target="_blank" >keeping records</a>, like drivers licenses and voter registration. </p><h3>Who is the Democratic incumbent, Alexi Giannoulias?</h3><p>A former Illinois state treasurer, Giannoulias <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/08/02/alexi-giannoulias-chicago-mayor-candidate-2027-february-election-secretary-of-state" >got his start</a> in politics as a basketball-playing buddy of Barack Obama. He played professional basketball in Greece, where he learned valuable lessons about competitiveness, teamwork and how to, as he put it, “surround yourself with players that are better than you so that you can get better.”</p><p>As a candidate, Giannoulias is leaning on his record in office, specifically his push to maintain “momentum on modernization.” He has touted the introduction of a sleeker bureaucratic process for renewing IDs that includes allowing people to make appointments online ahead of DMV visits, and the deployment of DMV kiosks.</p><p>Giannoulias spent about $6,000 on a single fundraiser in April, nearly as much as Harris raised in the second quarter of the year. He raised <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/07/15/alexi-giannoulias-brandon-johnson-potential-mayoral-candidates-campaign-fundraising-gap" target="_blank" >nearly $3.7 million in the second quarter</a>, with more pouring in as he announced his mayoral run.</p><h3>Who is his Republican challenger, Diane M. Harris?</h3><p>Harris, who <a class="Link" href="https://news.wttw.com/elections/voters-guide/2026-primary/diane-m-harris" target="_blank" >describes herself</a> as an entrepreneur, unsuccessfully ran for State Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 but landed the Republican nod for secretary of state by six percentage points. She's said she would ensure the office followed state laws regarding <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/flock-license-plate-reader-explainer" target="_blank" ><u>license plate readers</u></a>, while Giannoulias seeks to make his office’s audits of the technology more proactive. </p><p>In a Sun-Times candidate questionnaire response, Harris jabbed Giannoulias for running for mayor and secretary of state at the same time, saying: “The people deserve someone who’s committed to serving this state’s office.”</p><h3>What are some of their policy differences?</h3><p>Giannoulias and Harris split on age-based testing for drivers — he rolled back testing requirements for elderly drivers, while she’s in favor of tests for all age groups.</p><p>After <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/08/27/flock-license-plate-reader-alpr-chicago-suburb" target="_blank" >federal immigration authorities accessed</a> license plate reader data across the state, and a rash of law enforcement agents were accused of abusing the surveillance system, Giannoulias said he wants to set up consequences and accountability for those who violate state law related to the cameras. He also said he wants to establish pathways for accountability following searches of state data by federal immigration authorities searched state data and alleged abused by police.</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-730000" name="module-730000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3>What to Know - Races We’re Watching</h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-9992ee02-bd07-11f1-93ab-21195d7ab2fe"><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-us-senate-race-juliana-stratton-don-tracy-dick-durbin" ><b>U.S. Senate</b></a>: Juliana Stratton, Don Tracy</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-4th-congressional-district-patty-garcia-chris-getty-lupe-castillo-ed-hershey-us-rep-jesus-chuy-garcia" ><b>U.S. Congress (4th District)</b></a>: Lupe Castillo, Patty García, Chris Getty, Ed Hershey</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-llinois-governor-race-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-collin-corbett" ><b>Governor</b></a>: Darren Bailey, Collin Corbett, JB Pritzker</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-candidates-race-illinois-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-bob-fioretti" ><b>Illinois Attorney General</b></a>: Robert Fioretti, Kwame Raoul</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-comptroller-race-bryan-drew-state-rep-margaret-croke" ><b>Illinois Comptroller</b></a>: Margaret Croke, Bryan Drew </li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-secretary-of-state-race-alexi-giannoulias-diane-harris" ><b>Illinois Secretary of State</b></a>: Alexi Giannoulias, Diane M. Harris</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-97th-house-district-race-jessica-dixon-heitman-gabby-shanahan" ><b>Illinois House (District 97)</b></a>: Jessica Dixon Heitman, Gabby Shanahan</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/illinois-statehouse-elections-november-3-senate-house-general-assembly-what-to-know" ><b>More Illinois House Races</b></a></li></ul></div> </div><p></p>

<p>A former congressional chief of staff, a suburban mayor, a teacher and a 43-year resident of the 4th Congressional District are all vying for the seat left vacant by U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's retirement.</p><h3>So what?</h3><p>García’s last-minute ballot switch — helping his then-chief of staff Patty García get enough petitions to take his spot on the Democratic ballot — has nabbed a lot of attention about the race. Chuy García's move was widely panned as a maneuver that critics called a <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2025/11/03/jesus-chuy-garcia-reelection-dropping-out-chief-of-staff-running" target="_blank" >coronation and a Chicago machine play</a>. The congressman filed petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections to run for his 4th Congressional District seat on Oct. 27, but his chief of staff filed petitions just ahead of 5 p.m. Nov. 3, the deadline for filing. Chuy García later pulled his petitions. He was also <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2025/11/13/chuy-garcia-stepping-down-patty-garcia-successor-march-primary-marie-gluesenkamp-perez" target="_blank" >reprimanded on the House floor.</a></p><p> Patty García, no relation to the congressman, is trying to move forward into the general election and is building major Democratic support, both in Illinois and in Washington. Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty is running as the lone independent candidate, after two candidates — Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) and Mayra Macias failed to submit the required number of signatures. Lupe Castillo is the Republican candidate. Ed Hershey, a teacher, is the Working Class Party candidate. </p><h3>What does a U.S. representative do?</h3><p>Representatives vote on federal laws, advocate for their districts and work to secure federal funding and other resources for constituents. They serve two-year terms. </p><h3>Who are the candidates?</h3><p><b>Patty Garcia, </b>who has a Ph.D. in education policy,<b> </b>worked in Chuy Garcia’s office since 2019. She resigned as his chief of staff in November 2025. She has vowed to continue his work fighting for immigrant and working-class families in the Southwest Side district that stretches to the western suburbs.</p><p><b>Chris Getty</b> has served as mayor of Lyons since 2009 and is the town supervisor Lyons Township. He's also a licensed insurance producer. Getty says his priorities include improving the cost of living, immigration and public safety and government accountability. </p><p><b>Lupe Castillo</b> says she’s running on a platform of “pro-family values and policies." She says she’s the only candidate that “will protect women’s sports and girl’s bathrooms,” and who would support law enforcement over criminals. She’s also supportive of voter ID and school choice. She has lived in the district for 43 years. </p><p><b>Ed Hershey</b> has been teaching at Lindblom Math and Science Academy in West Englewood for 16 years and says his work in schools has shown him how a lack of resources can affect students. He’s also served as a union representative and ran for alderman of the 25th Ward in 2015.</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-ea0000" name="module-ea0000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3>What to Know - Races We’re Watching</h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-9992ee02-bd07-11f1-93ab-21195d7ab2fe"><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-us-senate-race-juliana-stratton-don-tracy-dick-durbin" ><b>U.S. Senate</b></a>: Juliana Stratton, Don Tracy</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-4th-congressional-district-patty-garcia-chris-getty-lupe-castillo-ed-hershey-us-rep-jesus-chuy-garcia" ><b>U.S. Congress (4th District)</b></a>: Lupe Castillo, Patty García, Chris Getty, Ed Hershey</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-llinois-governor-race-jb-pritzker-darren-bailey-collin-corbett" ><b>Governor</b></a>: Darren Bailey, Collin Corbett, JB Pritzker</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-candidates-race-illinois-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-bob-fioretti" ><b>Illinois Attorney General</b></a>: Robert Fioretti, Kwame Raoul</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-comptroller-race-bryan-drew-state-rep-margaret-croke" ><b>Illinois Comptroller</b></a>: Margaret Croke, Bryan Drew </li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-secretary-of-state-race-alexi-giannoulias-diane-harris" ><b>Illinois Secretary of State</b></a>: Alexi Giannoulias, Diane M. Harris</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/what-to-know-illinois-97th-house-district-race-jessica-dixon-heitman-gabby-shanahan" ><b>Illinois House (District 97)</b></a>: Jessica Dixon Heitman, Gabby Shanahan</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/10/01/illinois-statehouse-elections-november-3-senate-house-general-assembly-what-to-know" ><b>More Illinois House Races</b></a></li></ul></div> </div><p></p>

<p>Chicago travelers planning to fly this holiday season could face higher airfare as rising fuel prices put pressure on airline costs.</p><p>Fares are expected to rise dramatically in the next few weeks, according to Joseph Schwieterman, director of DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development.</p><p>“Fares a month from now will probably be at least 20% higher than now,” Schwieterman said.</p><p>Average airfares were <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2026/09/03/labor-day-weekend-travel" >already about 2% higher</a> over the Labor Day weekend than they were a year earlier, while fares to some of the most popular destinations were up about 20%, according to auto group AAA.</p><p>In addition to raising prices, airlines are also cutting flights to less popular destinations. At a <a class="Link" href="https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1776260&tp_key=5a46116329&language=en-us" target="_blank" >Morgan Stanley conference earlier this month</a>, Mike Leskinen, chief financial officer of Chicago-based United Airlines, said the company is cutting several December flights that “don’t make sense in a higher fuel environment.”</p><p>"As you look into the fourth quarter, there'll be some flights in December that we won't fly that we thought we were going to fly," Leskinen said. "If fuel remains high, we'll make some adjustments into the first quarter and beyond into 2027."</p><p>American Airlines also announced plans to cut some December flights at the conference.</p><p>This will also be the first holiday season without Spirit Airlines, which was known for its affordable pricing before <a class="Link" href="https://apnews.com/article/spirit-airlines-trump-bailout-bankruptcy-37a4818e1b71c0905d022f669d85948c" target="_blank" >shutting down in May</a>. Schwieterman said Spirit’s closure has hurt important markets, such as routes from Chicago to West Coast cities.</p><p>His advice for Chicagoans looking for a getaway? Book early, consider shorter trips, and avoid traveling the Friday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving.</p><p>“Customer demand is strong and it’s hard to see how that’s all going to sort itself out, but we know that high fares are going to be a part of it,” Schwieterman said.</p><p>Molly Hart, spokesperson for the Illinois chapter of AAA, echoed the sentiment, adding that waiting for better deals often backfires.</p><p>According to a recent AAA travel survey, nearly half of Illinois travelers who delayed booking ultimately paid more.</p><p>“The best time to book is when the trip fits your budget, schedule and priorities — not when pressured,” she said.</p>

<p>Families staying at Ronald McDonald House at Lurie Children’s Hospital have a new game room thanks to Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey.</p><p>The Josh Giddey Family Foundation and the Chicago Bulls unveiled the transformed community space on Friday.</p><p>“It's a colorful game room with a lot of Chicago Bulls and Australia-themed activities,” said Giddey, who is from Australia, as he looked at families through the window enjoying the space. “It means the world to me.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-110000" name="image-110000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3726074/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F08%2F5e%2Fe418605346adb32c402e16c1f031%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-10.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ea3dd9b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F08%2F5e%2Fe418605346adb32c402e16c1f031%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-10.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc0654c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F08%2F5e%2Fe418605346adb32c402e16c1f031%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-10.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Benny the Bull plays videos games" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc0654c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F08%2F5e%2Fe418605346adb32c402e16c1f031%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-10.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ec25d61/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F08%2F5e%2Fe418605346adb32c402e16c1f031%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-10.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc0654c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F08%2F5e%2Fe418605346adb32c402e16c1f031%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-10.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Benny the Bull plays videos games during the unveiling of a new community space led by the Josh Giddey Family Foundation at the Ronald McDonald House: Lurie Children’s at 211 E. Grand Ave. in Streeterville, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The Ronald McDonald House is a non-profit organization that services families with seriously ill or injured children, and while Giddey has given back to the healthcare community in other ways — giving game tickets healthcare workers, visiting patients at children’s hospitals, and delivering toys and serving meals during the holiday season — the Bulls say this game room marks Giddey’s first major community project in Chicago.</p><p>“The reasons that [families] came here were not so fun,” said Lisa Mitchell, chief program officer at the Ronald McDonald House Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana. “If we can bring a little fun and joy to their lives while they're navigating such a difficulty, then we're doing a good job. And this room really does personify that intention.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-e70000" name="image-e70000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b8133a5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9a%2F65%2Fb19e8e90417bb0b6a5772a80d1e5%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-13.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e65c95c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9a%2F65%2Fb19e8e90417bb0b6a5772a80d1e5%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-13.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ddbe324/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9a%2F65%2Fb19e8e90417bb0b6a5772a80d1e5%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-13.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Members of the Chicago Bulls organization and Ronald McDonald house celebrate during the unveiling of a new community space led by the Josh Giddey Family Foundation at the Ronald McDonald House" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ddbe324/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9a%2F65%2Fb19e8e90417bb0b6a5772a80d1e5%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-13.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9bdb9fd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9a%2F65%2Fb19e8e90417bb0b6a5772a80d1e5%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-13.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ddbe324/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9a%2F65%2Fb19e8e90417bb0b6a5772a80d1e5%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-13.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Members of the Chicago Bulls organization and Ronald McDonald house celebrate during the unveiling of a new community space led by the Josh Giddey Family Foundation at the Ronald McDonald House: Lurie Children’s at 211 E. Grand Ave. in Streeterville, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The room was stocked with board games, an arcade basketball game, and two-flat screen TVs with PlayStation consoles.</p><p>It also includes little personal touches from the guard — artwork of Australian animals like a platypus and an emu, a pair of Giddey’s signature shoe, and his Chicago No. 3 Bull’s jersey.</p><p>“The idea was to make it a colorful, bright space, really inclusive for everybody, and that's kind of how it turned out and it was exactly how we had envisioned it,” Giddey said.</p><p>Before cutting the red ribbon officially opening the game room to families, Calvin Parson, Chicago Bulls executive director of community engagement, called out Giddey’s consistent passion for the healthcare community.</p><p>“It's really just amazing to sort of see the impact that he has had during his time here,” Parson said.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-190000" name="image-190000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1729c57/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+1/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F12%2F75%2F713bd34d4175bf2a6e76a2667a65%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-11.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/996797a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+1/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F12%2F75%2F713bd34d4175bf2a6e76a2667a65%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-11.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/debe449/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F12%2F75%2F713bd34d4175bf2a6e76a2667a65%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-11.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The Proctor family watches as Jack and Kelly Proctor shoot baskets" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/debe449/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F12%2F75%2F713bd34d4175bf2a6e76a2667a65%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-11.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9d4c117/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+1/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F12%2F75%2F713bd34d4175bf2a6e76a2667a65%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-11.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/debe449/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F12%2F75%2F713bd34d4175bf2a6e76a2667a65%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-11.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Proctor family watches as Jack and Kelly Proctor shoot baskets during the unveiling of a new community space led by the Josh Giddey Family Foundation at the Ronald McDonald House: Lurie Children’s at 211 E. Grand Ave. in Streeterville, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Kelly Proctor and her family have been staying at the Ronald McDonald House for a little over six weeks. Proctor says her daughter Georgia is currently admitted at Lurie’s recovering from a brain infection.</p><p>“To be able to come here and sleep and shower and be able to run over back to the hospital really quickly,” Proctor said. “It takes so much thought out of an already very stressful situation.”</p><p>Proctor said she feels “extremely lucky” to be a part of the Ronald McDonald family.</p><p>“[The game room is] everything that a Chicago sports fan would want and dream of,” Proctor said.</p><p>Proctor’s daughter Addie, Georgia’s sister, told her that she plans on coming 20 times a month.</p><p>“We're gonna be here all the time, huh?” Proctor said. Addie nodded.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-190000" name="image-190000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1f0b643/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F51%2Feb%2Fb92590164658a59ecc515da284a7%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-02.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4203a04/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F51%2Feb%2Fb92590164658a59ecc515da284a7%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-02.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/75276ae/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F51%2Feb%2Fb92590164658a59ecc515da284a7%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-02.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="BULLSGAMEROOM_260926-02.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/75276ae/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F51%2Feb%2Fb92590164658a59ecc515da284a7%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-02.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7b6b302/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F51%2Feb%2Fb92590164658a59ecc515da284a7%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-02.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/75276ae/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F51%2Feb%2Fb92590164658a59ecc515da284a7%2Fbullsgameroom-260926-02.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey signs the shirt of Ronald McDonald House family member during the unveiling of a new community space led by the Josh Giddey Family Foundation at the Ronald McDonald House: Lurie Children’s at 211 E. Grand Ave. in Streeterville, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>After the unveiling ceremony, Giddey sponsored pizza and ice cream for dinner.</p><p>“Whether it's a hospital, a basketball court, different things around the community, there's definitely things on the horizon that I'm looking forward to doing,” Giddey said.</p>

<p>The Venezuelan man believed his case for asylum checked all the boxes to let him stay in the United States.</p><p>He had proof of how badly local police hurt him when they kidnapped and sodomized him, the nadir of<b> </b>months of harassment. As a gay man, he’s considered part of a protected class. And after he reported the assaults, the officers swore revenge.</p><p>“They will kill me, these police officers,” he testified in Spanish in August. “They'll know when I am there” in Venezuela. “I don’t want to return.”</p><p>And yet, the federal immigration judge assigned to hear his case in downtown Chicago was not convinced. Among the doubts he cited in denying the case: he couldn’t believe that the two officers piled onto a single motorcycle with their victim. He said the documents lacked crucial details, and ultimately determined that the police, though in uniform, were acting on a personal grudge rather than official actions.</p><p>Judge Matthew C. Beese, a first of many<b> </b>hires to Chicago’s immigration court during President Donald Trump’s second term, has one of the lowest asylum approval rates in Chicago now, contributing to a larger trend nationally of plummeting rates.</p><p>In Chicago, the asylum approval rate is just 3.3% so far this year; last year it was 14.6%. The national average dropped to 2.1%, down from 8.8%, according to a Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ analysis of immigration court data.</p><p>Asylum is historically a hard-won way<b> </b>to stay in the United States, requiring evidence of persecution back home that specifically targets protected groups of people, such as political dissidents or ethnic minorities. Escaping general dire conditions such as poverty, violence or a failing government was never sufficient to win asylum protection.</p><p>Since January 2025, when the newly inaugurated president immediately began ramping up deportations and removing millions of immigrants, his Department of Justice has<b> </b>foisted<b> </b>a major shake-up onto the immigration court it oversees. Veteran judges with deep backgrounds as immigration lawyers have been pushed out and replaced by new hires. A national social media campaign to recruit new judges continues to frame the role as a “deportation judge.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-5c0000" name="image-5c0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/908428d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2862x1606+0+151/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2Fc3%2F2fb43d7a4f0eac30692aa9945184%2Fscreenshot-2026-09-24-at-1-39-25-pm.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/039928e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2862x1606+0+151/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2Fc3%2F2fb43d7a4f0eac30692aa9945184%2Fscreenshot-2026-09-24-at-1-39-25-pm.png 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/af90523/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2862x1606+0+151/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2Fc3%2F2fb43d7a4f0eac30692aa9945184%2Fscreenshot-2026-09-24-at-1-39-25-pm.png" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Screenshot of the government ad" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/af90523/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2862x1606+0+151/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2Fc3%2F2fb43d7a4f0eac30692aa9945184%2Fscreenshot-2026-09-24-at-1-39-25-pm.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8966905/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2862x1606+0+151/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2Fc3%2F2fb43d7a4f0eac30692aa9945184%2Fscreenshot-2026-09-24-at-1-39-25-pm.png 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/af90523/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2862x1606+0+151/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffe%2Fc3%2F2fb43d7a4f0eac30692aa9945184%2Fscreenshot-2026-09-24-at-1-39-25-pm.png" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Department of Justice, which oversees immigration court and immigration judges, continues to advertise openings to become a “deportation judge” on its website.</p></figcaption></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>In Chicago, many of the recent hires used to work in military and administrative law, rather than immigration law, and as such, they’re taking the bench largely without important context about the home countries immigrants have fled.</p><p>Immigration judges have also been saddled with heavy caseloads, narrowed rules aimed at granting fewer asylum cases, and a new urgency coming from Washington to wrap up cases for migrants from certain countries, lawyers and recently ousted judges say.</p><p>They also worry that due process in Chicago’s immigration court is slipping away.</p><p>“When people talk about justice in our immigration system, I think the important piece is whether someone has had their day in court,” says Eva Saltzman, one of the most recently fired judges, “and I think whether individuals receive due process is a reflection of the integrity of the judge and the integrity of the government overall.”</p><p>Asked for an interview, the Department of Justice instead sent a prepared statement from its press office declining to comment on personnel matters.</p><p>"Reducing the immigration court backlog remains one of the highest priorities for this administration. The Justice Department is restoring integrity to our immigration system by hearing cases fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly, in accordance with the law,” it read.</p><p>“This Department of Justice continues to bring on talented legal professionals who are committed to protecting national security and public safety.”</p><h3> No background in immigration law</h3><p>Chicago’s immigration judges have seen a revolving door during the second Trump administration. Amid a flurry of changes by the Justice Department,<b> </b>a few experienced judges accepted early retirement<b> </b>or resigned, but at least six<b> </b>more in the court of about 20 have been fired without explanation, they say.</p><p>And for seven of the 10 judges newly appointed to hear cases in Chicago, their promotion appears to mark the start of their practice in immigration law.</p><p>A review of public records shows this holds true for Judge Beese, the Venezuelan man’s judge, who was appointed last October. Though a seasoned attorney licensed since 2003, Judge Beese’s Justice Department bio shows his seven years as a judge were spent as a municipal judge first in an Oklahoma town of about 500 and then as an administrative law judge for Oklahoma’s state regulatory commission governing utilities and oil and gas.</p><p>As a lawyer, he was a longtime deputy city attorney for Muskogee, Oklahoma, and had practiced family, criminal and general law around Rockford, Illinois.</p><p>Other new hires came from careers as military judges and as prosecutors. The three that have a background in immigration have worked for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.</p><p>Jennifer Peyton, Chicago’s former assistant chief of immigration court until she was fired in July 2025, says she’s found herself explaining facets of immigration law to some of the new judges now that she’s representing immigrants again in private practice.</p><p>She says she's had hearings with some of the newer judges, including ones in Chicago, where they've said things that run counter to immigration law. "And I'm like, 'that's impossible because of the posture of this case, like that can't happen,'" Peyton says. “I was lucky because I focused my entire career on immigration, so I had a pretty good grasp of [immigration law] going in.”</p><p>The new judges hired since 2025 in particular are driving down the asylum approval rate. Of the 1,638 asylum cases brought before them through August, they’ve granted just 25. That’s a 1.5% approval rating.</p><p>Beese, for example, has granted just 13 cases of the 802 that have come before him, and denied 212. He has ruled 511 of them “abandoned” — which could mean the immigrant didn’t show up in court or didn’t complete requirements such as being fingerprinted or submitting evidence, setting them on a path to deportation.<b> </b></p><p>Two of his new colleagues with more than 500 asylum rulings between them since their May appointments have yet to grant any asylum petitions at all. According to their Department of Justice biographies, both were former prosecutors and ICE lawyers, Shawn J. Abraham for six months in Chicago and Jaime Poarch for seven in Texas.</p><p>The Sun-Times/WBEZ analysis used data published by the Executive Office for Immigration Review, the government’s name for the immigration court<b>, </b>as collected by the Deportation Data Project, through the end of August.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-a90000" name="html-embed-module-a90000"></a><div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/30346340"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script><noscript><img src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/30346340/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="chart visualization" /></noscript></div> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-670000" name="html-embed-module-670000"></a><div class="flourish-embed flourish-sankey" data-src="visualisation/30355932"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script><noscript><img src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/30355932/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="sankey visualization" /></noscript></div> </div> </div><p></p><h3>Lots of rule changes, lots of firings</h3><p>Saltzman was one of the two judges fired in July, as asylum cases in Chicago peaked. One Thursday afternoon, as she was hearing cases, she says a brief email landed in her inbox telling her she was done. An immigration judge since 2016 with positive performance reviews, she was assigned to cases for immigrants in detention centers.</p><p>She also suspects her appointment by the Obama administration was a motive for her firing,<b> </b>saying in an interview,<b> </b>“I have seen that those not appointed by this administration were more quickly terminated.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-020000" name="image-020000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c6606ce/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F34%2F051080c64d4a9ed715871912254c%2Feva-saltzman.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bc02871/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F34%2F051080c64d4a9ed715871912254c%2Feva-saltzman.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aa8781f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F34%2F051080c64d4a9ed715871912254c%2Feva-saltzman.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Eva Saltzman" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aa8781f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F34%2F051080c64d4a9ed715871912254c%2Feva-saltzman.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1a9b2fe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F34%2F051080c64d4a9ed715871912254c%2Feva-saltzman.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aa8781f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F34%2F051080c64d4a9ed715871912254c%2Feva-saltzman.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Eva Saltzman, seen downtown outside the federal immigration court building, was fired at the end of July, the latest Chicago immigration judge to lose her job.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The firings posed one kind of pressure. Then there were policy changes for how judges could decide an asylum case, narrowing the grounds they could use to find a person eligible — or speeding up deadlines.</p><p>“What I did see, of course, was a lot of decisions from the Board of Immigration Appeals clarifying who is eligible for different forms of [asylum] relief,” Saltzman says, “and so a case that I might have seen three years ago, where it appeared clear that that individual had established their eligibility for asylum under the current cases that have been published by the Board of Immigration Appeals, that individual is no longer eligible for asylum, and so I did find myself in accordance with the law deciding cases very differently than I may have two or three years ago.”</p><p>In late June, Judge Elizabeth Treacy resigned under duress, saying she was overwhelmed with cases and “uncomfortable” rule changes.</p><p>“Suddenly we would receive emails, and I was never explicitly told why,” Treacy says, “where 'Okay, here's the number of cases; these must be heard by X date, must be completed by this date,' without an explanation as to why.” Somalis, for example, who’ve been repeatedly vilified by the president, suddenly had their hearing dates moved up, cutting their time to gather evidence.</p><p>The changes felt wrong for Treacy, who had worked on the enforcement side of immigration for eight and a half years as a lawyer for ICE until 2019. She was appointed an immigration judge in 2023.</p><p>“The job that I left was not the job that I applied for,” she says. “I had worked for a long time with the goal of becoming an immigration judge… But in the last two years, the job just drastically changed."</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-230000" name="image-230000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/941e898/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1a%2Fea%2F6bcaa1e14d33bb5df0425e7310ec%2Fwatchimmjudges-260927-16.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3b519e1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1a%2Fea%2F6bcaa1e14d33bb5df0425e7310ec%2Fwatchimmjudges-260927-16.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/43cad04/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1a%2Fea%2F6bcaa1e14d33bb5df0425e7310ec%2Fwatchimmjudges-260927-16.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Andrew Sidea" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/43cad04/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1a%2Fea%2F6bcaa1e14d33bb5df0425e7310ec%2Fwatchimmjudges-260927-16.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c1fc8f8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1a%2Fea%2F6bcaa1e14d33bb5df0425e7310ec%2Fwatchimmjudges-260927-16.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/43cad04/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F1a%2Fea%2F6bcaa1e14d33bb5df0425e7310ec%2Fwatchimmjudges-260927-16.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Veteran immigration lawyer Andrew Sidea says he’s seen judicial discretion get tightened, tying judges’ hands.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Veteran immigration lawyer Andrew Sidea also has watched changes that sounded positive play out.</p><p>That included prioritizing families seeking asylum, which ended up curtailing the time clients of his — indigenous Bolivian political dissidents — needed to gather evidence from home. Their petition was denied in July.</p><p>He’s seen judicial discretion get tightened, tying judges’ hands. And overall, asylum seekers from several Central and South American countries — such as Venezuela, Honduras and Nicaragua —now face only a small chance of having their applications approved.</p><p>"If you really wanted to sort of see, what does it mean to be an immigration judge in the second President Trump era, any of the judges that have been there for a year or less will give you a very good idea as to what the judges are being told and trained by the Department of Justice," Sidea says.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-070000" name="html-embed-module-070000"></a><div class="flourish-embed flourish-scatter" data-src="visualisation/30347671"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script><noscript><img src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/30347671/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="scatter visualization" /></noscript></div> </div> </div><p>Saltzman sees patterns that mimic trends in the federal government.</p><p>Women have been “fired or terminated without cause in the Chicago immigration court since this administration began,” Saltzman says. “There have been during that time frame no male judges terminated. There were, I believe, the hiring of two new male judges announced the day before two of us female judges were terminated. So that is what it is.”</p><p>Currently, the Chicago court lists 20 judges, including an assistant chief and backup assistant chief; 14 of them are men. In January 2025, the reverse was true. Of 22 listed then, 14 were women.</p><h3></h3><h3>Due process under threat</h3><p>The churn has immigration court veterans worried that<b> </b>the judges’ ability to work independently has been under threat.</p><p>That puts due process for immigrants at risk too, Treacy says.</p><p>“I have worked under many different administrations, both Republican and Democrat, some are more enforcement minded, others are not,” she says, “but it always felt until now that there was some fairness, some order to what was happening, that that we were still operating within a fair system that honored due process.”</p><p>Peyton, Treacy’s former boss, is blunter, calling what’s happening, “intentional destructive acts of our administration towards the immigration courts, towards due process, and against the non-citizens.</p><p>“I'm seeing it as like a mass catastrophe against due process, finding procedural reasons to not have hearings where someone fears torture if they're going to go back to their home country,” says Peyton, once Chicago’s assistant chief of immigration court. </p><p>“I wish that people recognize that valid claims are being set aside every day for procedural roadblocks, and that has happened so much since January 20th [2025]. And I don't know if we're ever gonna get it back.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-b60000" name="image-b60000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2666115/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5116x2871+0+270/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc1%2Ff4%2F2829fe834c13975eb2584d3d5615%2Fjennifer-peyton.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2f02490/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5116x2871+0+270/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc1%2Ff4%2F2829fe834c13975eb2584d3d5615%2Fjennifer-peyton.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e591334/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5116x2871+0+270/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc1%2Ff4%2F2829fe834c13975eb2584d3d5615%2Fjennifer-peyton.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="WATCHMEGAMASTERS_260726-1.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e591334/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5116x2871+0+270/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc1%2Ff4%2F2829fe834c13975eb2584d3d5615%2Fjennifer-peyton.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc1fe3b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5116x2871+0+270/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc1%2Ff4%2F2829fe834c13975eb2584d3d5615%2Fjennifer-peyton.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e591334/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5116x2871+0+270/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc1%2Ff4%2F2829fe834c13975eb2584d3d5615%2Fjennifer-peyton.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Judge Jennifer Peyton stands in her office in the Loop, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p> Jeremy Battle/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/08/18/illinois-lawmakers-want-chaotic-mega-master-hearings-at-chicagos-immigration-court-to-end" >Lawmakers want chaotic ‘mega master’ hearings at Chicago’s immigration court to end</a> </li> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/08/26/lawmakers-advocates-allege-chicago-immigration-court-violated-due-process-for-minors-handed-removal-orders" >Chicago immigration court violated due process for minors with removal orders, lawmakers say</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p></p>

<p>The ride-sharing giant, Uber, has been dealt a legal setback by a unanimous Illinois Supreme Court that sided with the widow of 60-year-old rider killed in a 2022 crash along the Stevenson Expressway.</p><p>The question at the center of the case was whether a family member of a deceased rider would be forced into third-party arbitration to settle a wrongful death or severe injury claim, rather than hashing the issue out in the courts.</p><p>In its registration process, Uber requires every user to agree to mandatory arbitration to settle any potential claims against the company.</p><p>The seven-person high court ruled Gloria Sheridan Geller, acting as a representative of the estate of her late husband, Mark Geller, is exempt from that requirement and can sue Uber for damages. That's despite Gloria Sheridan Geller also having agreed to the abitration clause as a registered Uber user herself.</p><p>“Because [her] agreement applies only to disputes arising from her own use of Uber’s services and because the estate’s wrongful death claims arise solely from Mark’s use and accrued only upon his death, no clear and unmistakable evidence exists to conclude that the parties agreed to … an arbitrator,” wrote Justice David K. Overstreet in the court’s opinion.</p><p>Uber did not return WBEZ’s requests for comment.</p><p>On April 19, 2022, Mark Geller was riding in an Uber when 51-year-old driver Ejaz Rathore lost control of the vehicle, striking a fixed object along Interstate 55 in Chicago. Both men were taken to hospitals and pronounced dead, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2022/4/20/23034385/interstate-55-crash-throop" target="_blank" ><u>according to Illinois State Police.</u></a></p><p>Geller’s widow, on behalf of his estate, nearly a year later filed a nine-count complaint in Cook County Circuit Court, arguing that Rathore was negligent and that Uber was “vicariously liable.”</p><p>Uber argued for the case’s dismissal, saying Geller's widow also agreed to arbitrate disputes when she checked the “I accept” box on the Uber app’s user agreement page “in the same manner Mark did.”</p><p>The company reported 153 motor vehicle fatalities nationwide between 2020 and 2021, according to Uber’s most recent <a class="Link" href="https://tb-static.uber.com/prod/udam-assets/25d012e2-97e1-5746-ae4a-e54c9d3dc3cd.pdf" target="_blank" ><u>safety study. </u></a></p><p>The safety of ride-sharing app users has sparked national attention in recent years.</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://apnews.com/article/uber-california-death-emily-normandin-parker-7cee8b2071c5ecc4414391b8fb6004a0" target="_blank" ><u>Last week</u></a>, an arbitrator ordered Uber to pay $40 million to the parents of a 23-year-old passenger who was fatally struck by oncoming traffic after her driver pulled over to the shoulder of a highway in Southern California.</p><p>And since the app’s popularity skyrocketed, Uber has faced mounting lawsuits alleging sexual assault and misconduct by drivers against users. That same report found 2,717 incidents across the most serious categories of sexual assault and misconduct that year.</p><p>A coalition of victim advocacy groups, including the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, had filed an amicus brief in support of Geller’s widow. In their brief, the group argued for the end of forced arbitration, saying victims were “less likely to succeed, and received significantly lower awards, while the secrecy of arbitration perpetuated a "culture of silence.”</p><p>Per the court’s orders, the wrongful death case will now proceed in the circuit court system.</p><p><i>Mawa Iqbal covers state government and politics for WBEZ and Illinois Public Radio. </i></p>

<p>Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) is turning up the heat on the battle over updating Chicago’s four-decade-old renters rights ordinance, scheduling a vote on <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/07/27/renters-protection-ordinances-mayor-brandon-johnson-aldermanic-opponents-dueling-versions-chicago-city-council" >dueling proposals</a> at a special City Council meeting Tuesday despite his vows for “more dialogue” and compromise.</p><p>By filing his intent with the Clerk’s office to call for a vote on both proposed ordinances, one of them crafted by him, Villegas is starting a clock on negotiations and signaling to his opposition that he believes his ordinance has the votes to pass without further talks.</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/09/16/brandon-johnson-renters-protection-ordinance-aldermen-dueling-proposals-chicago-city-council-housing-committe" >Mayor Brandon Johnson has proposed </a>the so-called Protecting Renters Ordinance, or PRO. His City Council opposition are pushing <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/09/17/city-council-zoning-committee-dueling-renter-protection-plans-brandon-johnson-gilbert-villegas" >their own version </a>that they believe more fairly balances the needs of renters and landlords. That version is called the Fair and Accountable Illinois Rental Ordinance, or FAIR.</p><p>At a City Council meeting Wednesday, both sides agreed to hold off on calling for a vote on their respective proposals, claiming they were in favor of collaboration. </p><p>When asked what changed, Villegas said he was provoked by a move Wednesday from Ald. Jason Ervin (28th), Johnson’s most powerful ally. Ervin said it “makes no sense” that both proposals are active and requested for a compromise to be reached in a joint committee. The motion went nowhere. But Villegas said Ervin's motion put him on the spot. </p><p>“The housing advocates should be wondering why is the mayor's floor leader doing this? It's not me. It's causing me to react. I'm not the one who took the first action here,” Villegas said when asked what message he has for housing advocates who’ve worked for years on the proposal.</p><p>“When you're making an attempt like that, that gives us pause because it's like, are you being an honest broker[?],” Villegas said. </p><p></p><p>Over the past several weeks, some compromises have been made on both sides. The mayor removed from his proposal a key provision that requires landlords to pay relocation costs if they don’t renew leases. FAIR sponsors removed language from their proposal that expanded exemptions for landlords who own up to 12 units.</p><p>However, the remaining sticking points revolve around key logistical questions about how either rental protection ordinance would be enforced, what information the rental registry would collect, and how much money landlords would pay to register.</p><p>The Mayor’s proposal would create a Bureau of Rental Housing Services within the Department of Housing funded by fees collected through a new citywide rental registry. FAIR collects less information for the rental registry, does not include a fee for landlords, and assigns enforcement duties to the city’s Department of Buildings.</p><p>Villegas’ move came as a surprise to tenants’ advocates, in part because of his repeated promises, as early as last week, to hash out an agreement with the coalition opposed to his more landlord-friendly renters ordinance.</p><p>“Listen, everyone that knows me knows that I’m always willing to engage and willing to have discussions to try to get to a compromise. I don’t allow perfect to be the enemy,” Villegas told progressive Ald. Ruth Cruz at a hearing last week as she expressed concern that the rental registry in Villegas’ proposal didn’t go far enough.</p><p>“There are some similarities between the ordinances and there are some differences. And I think the only way to really get to the point where there could be an opportunity to get more support is to continue to have those discussions. You do have my word that we will continue to have dialogue,” he said.</p><p>On Friday, Villegas told WBEZ the scheduled vote “forces more dialogue,” but later said there are no negotiation meetings scheduled before Tuesday.</p><p></p><p>Tenant advocates on Friday said they were disappointed to hear of Villegas’ move.</p><p>Michelle Gilbert, an attorney at the Law Center for Better Housing, said, “We had met with Ald. Villegas earlier, and I felt that there was really a spirit of cooperation and trying to achieve the best result. Calling it for a vote at this point without further meeting or discussion is against that spirit of cooperation.”</p><p>Marty Cozzola, an attorney at Impact for Equity, said he is not aware of “any negotiation since both ordinances passed out of committee. It's pretty shocking to hear that they are both going to be called for a vote next week, when there were multiple alderpeople on the record saying they wanted changes to FAIR before they would vote in favor.” </p><p>Even if Villegas has the 26 votes needed to pass his measure, he’s also under pressure to compromise to avoid a mayoral veto. That takes 34 votes to override.</p><p></p>

<p><i>Good afternoon! It’s Friday, and I’m frantically reading Lily King’s “</i><a class="Link" href="https://groveatlantic.com/book/heart-the-lover/" target="_blank" ><i><u>Heart the Lover</u></i></a><i>” before my book club discusses it this weekend. Here’s what you need to know today.</i></p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/sports/2026/09/25/what-do-i-need-to-know-chicago-cubs-white-sox-both-mlb-playoffs-postseason" target="_blank" ><b><u>1. What do I need to know about the Chicago Cubs and White Sox both being in the MLB playoffs?</u></b></a></p><p>As someone who doesn’t closely follow sports, I admittedly wasn’t aware how our baseball teams were doing this season — until I heard they both made it to the Major League Baseball playoffs yesterday.</p><p>While it’s rare for both Chicago teams to play in the postseason in the same year, it has happened before (in 2020, 2008 and 1906). But as my colleague Amy Yee writes, this is the first time they’ve clinched playoff berths on the same day.</p><p>We don’t know yet if either team will have home games, as that will be determined by their seeding for the postseason. It’s possible the seeding won’t be finalized until the last games of the regular season are played on Sunday. The Cubs own regular-season tie-breakers over the Padres, Phillies and Diamondbacks for home-field in the Wild Card Series if the teams end with the same record.</p><p>The Cubs also can play at Wrigley Field if they finish with the top record among the wild card contenders. The Sox can still earn home games at Rate Field (and a first-round bye) if they win the American League Central.</p><p>The Sox are doing well this year, but I heard they weren’t great in past seasons. Just how bad? As Yee writes: “Pretty bad. From 2023 to 2025, the Sox lost more than 100 games each season. In 2024, the Sox went 41-121, setting the modern MLB record for losses in a season. The team also lost at least 100 games in 2018 and 1970.”</p><p>You can probably watch the games at any Chicago-area bar with a TV. My colleagues’ suggestions can be found in the link. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/sports/2026/09/25/what-do-i-need-to-know-chicago-cubs-white-sox-both-mlb-playoffs-postseason" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/museums-zoos/2026/09/25/beluga-whales-shedd-aquarium-deaths-preliminary-findings" target="_blank" ><b><u>2. Two beluga whales had ‘chronic gastrointestinal disease’ before their deaths, the Shedd Aquarium revealed</u></b></a></p><p>Two of the four Shedd Aquarium beluga whales that have died in recent weeks suffered from illnesses that likely developed before they arrived from a Canadian aquatic park, Shedd staff announced today. The institution took in a total of 10 belugas from Marineland last month, adding to the eight resident whales.</p><p>A third beluga, 34-year-old Beethoven, suffered from age-related health problems, Shedd said. Beethoven, unlike the other two, was part of the aquarium’s resident population. Shedd also said veterinarians have found no evidence of a “shared infectious disease or common environmental factor connecting” the deaths of Beethoven, Peekachu and Rain.</p><p>“These initial findings do not always lead to one definitive cause of death. However, the evidence can still provide meaningful insight into an animal’s health, identify conditions that may have contributed to a loss and inform the care of other animals,” Shedd said in a statement. “We want to share what the evidence can and cannot establish, and how we are applying what we learn to the care of the belugas at Shedd.”</p><p>“No animal is where we want them to be clinically, but we are fortified by the incremental, step-by-step progress, which is often not linear,” the aquarium said in its statement. “Secord and Caspian remain the whales of greatest clinical concern at this time, and our teams continue to monitor them and the other rescued belugas around the clock.”</p><p>Animal rights activists in the United States and Canada have questioned whether the belugas were healthy enough to endure the stress of being transferred out of Marineland — in trucks and then airplanes. As my colleague Stefano Esposito writes, Shedd’s preliminary medical findings will likely only raise further questions about the rescue and the health of the belugas before they left Canada. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/museums-zoos/2026/09/25/beluga-whales-shedd-aquarium-deaths-preliminary-findings" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/moment-of-youth/2026/09/25/downtown-day-teen-survey-results" target="_blank" ><b><u>3. Chicago teens want more jobs and businesses in their neighborhoods, a survey shows</u></b></a></p><p>Chicago teens would like to see more investment in job opportunities and businesses on the South and West sides, according to a survey conducted by My Block, My Hood, My City this summer.</p><p>As my colleague Erica Thompson reports, the youth empowerment nonprofit collected responses in July during Downtown Day, an annual initiative that brings 1,000 teens into the city for a day of experiences that they select. Each participant was given a $50 prepaid debit card to use at destinations of their choice, which included the Art Institute of Chicago, Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, Water Tower Place and dozens more.</p><p>Teens were also asked how and where they would invest $50,000 — mirroring the collective sum of their gift cards — by placing push pins on a map of Chicago during the event. Of the 121 survey respondents, nearly 20% chose jobs as a priority, while about 15% chose businesses and retail. About 47% of the teens chose South Side community areas for all types of investment, while nearly 35% targeted the West Side.</p><p>The feedback will help My Block, My Hood, My City inform programming as the city grapples with how to make public spaces welcoming for young people while responding to concerns about large teen gatherings that can sometimes turn violent. The data underscores that young people want to work and socialize where they live but contend with a lack of options in disinvested neighborhoods, the organization said. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/moment-of-youth/2026/09/25/downtown-day-teen-survey-results" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2026/09/24/city-to-replace-northwest-side-resident-built-benches-as-advocates-say-more-are-on-the-way" target="_blank" ><b><u>4. Chicago will replace resident-built benches on the Northwest Side</u></b></a></p><p>A pair of yellow and blue colored benches built by a local group to place at bus stops without pedestrian seating will be taken down by the city this week and replaced with ones up to municipal code, Violet Miller reports for the Chicago Sun-Times.</p><p>The two benches — at Damen Avenue and Thomas Street, as well as Division Street and Oakley Boulevard — were placed without seeking permission from the city, said Sam Kovnar, founder of the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance.</p><p>But they were enough to get the attention of the 1st Ward office, which told Kovnar the city expected to place ones up to specifications at the bus stops but offered to work with him to get more “decorative” benches down the line, according to emails reviewed by the Sun-Times. The current resident-made benches bear the colors of the Ukrainian flag.</p><p>“It’s very encouraging to have the support of the ward office,” Kovnar said. “We were worried the city would take them away and not replace them with anything. … We definitely want to build more. The question is how many and how soon?” [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2026/09/24/city-to-replace-northwest-side-resident-built-benches-as-advocates-say-more-are-on-the-way" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/travel/2026/09/24/holiday-flight-airfare-prices-planning" target="_blank" ><b><u>5. As oil prices rise, so will airfare for holiday travelers, experts say</u></b></a></p><p>As much as I’m in full-on fall mode, I booked flights yesterday to see my mom for Christmas. Thanks to rising airfare caused by rising fuel prices, it’s time to set holiday season plans in stone, Misha Manjuran Oberoi reports for the Chicago Sun-Times.</p><p>Fares are expected to rise dramatically — “at least 20% higher” — in the next few weeks, according to Joseph Schwieterman, director of DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development.</p><p>Average airfares were already about 2% higher over the Labor Day weekend than they were a year earlier, while fares to some of the most popular destinations were up about 20%, according to auto group AAA.</p><p>In addition to raising prices, airlines are also cutting flights to less popular destinations.</p><p>This will also be the first holiday season without Spirit Airlines, which was known for its affordable pricing before shutting down in May. Schwieterman said Spirit’s closure has hurt important markets, such as routes from Chicago to West Coast cities. His advice for Chicagoans looking for a getaway: Book early, consider shorter trips and avoid traveling the Friday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/travel/2026/09/24/holiday-flight-airfare-prices-planning" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><b>Here’s what else is happening</b></p><ul class="rte2-style-ul" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" id="rte-ebdaf9b1-b91e-11f1-b5ed-596f584432cb"><li>The U.S. Supreme Court revived a data system the federal government uses to check the citizenship of millions of Americans on state voter rolls. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.npr.org/2026/09/25/nx-s1-5976804/supreme-court-trump-save-noncitizen-voting" target="_blank" ><u>NPR</u></a>]</li><li>The internet is debating if jobseekers should bring iced coffee to interviews. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/style/iced-coffee-job-interview-unprofessional.html?unlocked_article_code=1.D1E.3fUW.6VA_2d7BemCz&smid=url-share" target="_blank" ><u>New York Times</u></a>]</li><li>Protesters rallied against President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the Chicago area for a golf tournament. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/09/24/protest-trump-presidents-cup-medinah-golf-tournament" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</li><li>Back porches and fire escapes serve as gardens, music practice spaces, art studios and more for many Chicagoans. [<a class="Link" href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/09/25/from-fire-escape-to-diy-music-venue-chicagos-back-porch-culture-is-thriving/" target="_blank" ><u>Block Club Chicago</u></a>]</li></ul><p><b>Oh, and one more thing …</b></p><p>On the Mississippi River, just over 140 miles west of Chicago, Clinton, Iowa has seen many cycles of boom and bust since its settlement after the Louisiana Purchase. In the 19th century, railroads and ferries were drawn to Clinton, located where the river narrows. Then timber companies bought up vast swathes of Wisconsin and Minnesota and floated logs down the river to Clinton sawmills. Wealthy from lumber, the town claimed the most millionaires per capita in the country in the late 1800s before the upper Midwest was logged out.</p><p>Agribusiness eventually supplanted them, but recent years saw significant vacancies and empty lots in the historic downtown, which has 17 buildings listed on the National Historic Register of Places, including the Van Allen Building by Louis Sullivan.</p><p>“We are an industrial river town. We don’t hide from it. It has its war scars,” said Matt Parbs, the vice president of economic and community development for Grow Clinton, a nonprofit devoted to improving the local quality of life. “We’re finding a way to leverage our stories and our assets in the last five to 10 years.”</p><p>Recently, that lever has been art, WBEZ contributor Elaine Glusac reports as part of a series on Midwestern towns and small cities that have leaned into tourism to help lift local economies. Through initiatives both grass roots and public, Clinton has seized on outdoor exhibitions to not just attract out of towners but to instill pride in locals. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/travel/2026/09/25/reviving-a-19th-century-lumber-hub-through-art-in-clinton-iowa" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><b>Tell me something good …</b></p><p>What is your favorite place to buy books in the Chicago area?</p><p>Michelina writes:</p><p>“My favorite place to buy books is only available once a year — the Printers Row Lit Fest. I’m able to visit numerous bookstores at once, score free books, start my holiday shopping, and discover local authors. It’s the best of the bookish world in one place, and one of my favorite Chicago weekends of the year! As soon as the weekend dates are announced, it goes on my calendar.”</p><p>Laurel writes:</p><p>“Oak Park has even more! Remember Dandelion Book Shop, 139 S. Oak Park Ave.!”</p><p>Thanks for all the responses this week! It was great hearing from everyone, and I hope you found a new bookstore or event to check out.</p>

<p>The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/09/24/cubs-clinch-postseason-marlins-wild-card-seeding-still-a-mystery" target="_blank" ><u>Cubs</u></a> and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/09/24/white-sox-clinch-first-playoff-berth-since-2021-with-9-1-blowout-win-over-royals" target="_blank" ><u>Sox</u></a> both are in the Major League Baseball playoffs, thanks to their victories Thursday afternoon. While it’s rare for both Chicago teams to play in the postseason in the same year, it has happened before.</p><p>But it's the first time they've clinched playoff berths on the same day.</p><p>Here’s what you need to know about both teams being in the playoffs.</p><h3>In what other years have the Cubs and Sox made the postseason in the same year? What happened?</h3><p>The Cubs and Sox made the postseason together in the 2020 COVID-shortened season, and in 2008 and 1906, when they met in the World Series.</p><p>In 2020, both teams lost in the best-of-three wild-card round. The Cubs lost to the Marlins 2-0, and the Sox lost to the then-Oakland A’s 2-1.</p><p>In 2008, both teams lost in the best-of-five Division Series. The Cubs had the best record in the National League that season, but they lost to the Dodgers 3-0. The Sox lost to the Rays 3-1.</p><p>In 1906, the Sox beat the Cubs 4-2 in the World Series.</p><h3>Will either the Cubs or White Sox have any home games for the playoffs?</h3><p>We don’t know yet. That will be determined based on their seeding for the postseason. It's possible the seeding won’t be finalized until the last games of the regular season are played on Sunday. The Cubs own regular-season tie-breakers over the Padres, Phillies and Diamondbacks for home-field in the Wild Card Series if the teams end with the same record. </p><p>The Cubs also can play at Wrigley Field if they finish with the top record among the wild card contenders. The Sox can still earn home games at Rate Field (and a first-round bye) if they win the American League Central. </p><h3>Could there be a Red Line cross-town doubleheader during the playoffs?</h3><p>A Red Line/cross-town doubleheader is when the Cubs and Sox play on the same day at home, and it’s possible for fans to attend both games by taking the Red Line L (the subway) between Wrigley Field on Chicago’s North Side and Rate Field on the South Side.</p><p>There would not be a Red Line doubleheader in the wild-card round. The postseason teams include the National League’s and the American League’s three division winners and three wild card teams from each league. Only the top wild card team in each league hosts playoff games in the wild card round.</p><p>The Cubs still have a chance for the top wild card spot in the National League, but the Sox’s record isn’t good enough to get the top wild card spot in the American League. But if they both advance, it becomes possible that they’d both host postseason games on the same day.</p><h3>Who’s won more World Series — Cubs or Sox?<b> </b></h3><p>They’ve each won three times. The Sox in 1906, 1917 and 2005. The Cubs in 1907, 1908 and 2016.</p><h3>The Sox are doing well this year, but just how bad have they been in the past?</h3><p>Pretty bad. From 2023 to 2025, the Sox lost more than 100 games each season. In 2024, the Sox went 41-121, setting the modern MLB record for losses in a season. The team also lost at least 100 games in <a class="Link" href="https://southsideshowdown.com/posts/100-losses-chicago-white-sox-together-often" target="_blank" ><u>2018 and 1970</u></a>.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-8c0000" name="image-8c0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d55297e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6304x3538+0+333/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fba%2Fb777af98427b898124c380866e07%2Fwhite-sox-royals-baseball.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/01b70a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6304x3538+0+333/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fba%2Fb777af98427b898124c380866e07%2Fwhite-sox-royals-baseball.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/88a0892/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6304x3538+0+333/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fba%2Fb777af98427b898124c380866e07%2Fwhite-sox-royals-baseball.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="White Sox Royals Baseball" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/88a0892/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6304x3538+0+333/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fba%2Fb777af98427b898124c380866e07%2Fwhite-sox-royals-baseball.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1536625/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6304x3538+0+333/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fba%2Fb777af98427b898124c380866e07%2Fwhite-sox-royals-baseball.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/88a0892/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6304x3538+0+333/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7e%2Fba%2Fb777af98427b898124c380866e07%2Fwhite-sox-royals-baseball.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Members of the Chicago White Sox celebrate in the clubhouse after clinching a playoff spot following their baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) ORG XMIT: MOCR325</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Charlie Riedel/AP Photos</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p></p><h3>Has a team that lost 100 games three years in a row ever made the playoffs?</h3><p>No. The Sox would be the first.</p><h3>Why is the Cubs-Sox rivalry so intense?</h3><p>Although both teams have won the World Series three times, the Cubs are more widely known and get more recognition nationwide than the Sox. This is due to <a class="Link" href="https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-cubs-fan-paradox-why-would-anyone-root-for-losers/" target="_blank" ><u>several reasons</u></a>, including that WGN made Cubs games available on cable nationally for decades.</p><p>The Cubs’ <a class="Link" href="https://www.mlb.com/cubs/ballpark/information/history." target="_blank" ><u>Wrigley Field</u></a> is also a historic ballpark that dates from 1914. It’s located in the middle of a lively residential neighborhood.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Sox play at <a class="Link" href="https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/ballpark/information/history-and-dimensions" target="_blank" ><u>Rate Field</u></a>, a modern stadium that opened in 1991 after Comiskey Park, its former home for 80 years, was demolished. ‘Sox Park,’ as many Chicagoans still call it with disregard to its corporate name, is on the South Side in Bridgeport, a more historically industrial area.</p><p>While Wrigleyville, home to Wrigley Field, also has working-class history, it began gentrifying in the 1980s and is more upmarket now.</p><p>The Cubs have more financial resources than the Sox. <a class="Link" href="https://www.forbes.com/teams/chicago-cubs/" target="_blank" ><u>The Cubs</u></a> were valued at $5 billion by Forbes in 2026 with revenue of $599 million. Meanwhile, Forbes valued the <a class="Link" href="https://www.forbes.com/teams/chicago-white-sox/" target="_blank" ><u>Sox</u></a> at $1.94 billion, with revenues of $239 million.</p><p>For all these reasons, many Sox fans feel overshadowed by the Cubs, which feeds resentment and rivalry between the teams.</p><h3>Do other cities have two baseball teams?</h3><p>Yes. New York has the Yankees and the Mets. New York used to have the Yankees, Dodgers and Giants. After the latter two teams left for California, the Mets became an expansion team in 1962.</p><p>Los Angeles has the Dodgers and the Angels. But the Angels are officially based in Anaheim in Orange County, not Los Angeles County. The Dodgers started playing in LA when they moved there from Brooklyn in 1958, while the Angels became an expansion team in 1961.</p><p>California’s Bay Area has the San Francisco Giants, who moved there from New York in 1958. The A’s, previously in Philadelphia and Kansas City, were in Oakland from 1968 until 2024.</p><p>The A’s are temporarily playing in West Sacramento before a planned move to Las Vegas. The team expects to open its new ballpark for the 2028 season on the Tropicana site on the <a class="Link" href="https://www.mlb.com/news/athletics-statement-on-relocation" target="_blank" ><u>Las Vegas Strip</u></a>.</p><h3>Where can I watch the games with fans?</h3><p>Probably any bar with a TV. Here are some of our staff's favorites.</p><h4>For the Cubs:</h4><p>Nisei Lounge, opened in 1951, touts itself as the oldest bar in Wrigleyville.<br>3439 N. Sheffield Ave.</p><p>Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, North Center<br>3905 N. Lincoln Ave.</p><h4>For the Sox:</h4><p>Mitchell's Tap, Bridgeport near Rate Field<br>3356 S. Halsted St.</p><p>Bob Inn, near Logan Square, has been family-owned and operated since 1945.<br>2609 W. Fullerton Ave.</p>

<p><i>Regenerative tourism harnesses the power of sustainable travel to transform places and communities for the better. In this series, we look at Midwestern towns and small cities that have leaned into tourism to help lift local economies and create destinations that travelers want to visit.</i></p><p>On the Mississippi River, just over 140 miles west of Chicago, <a class="Link" href="https://www.growclinton.com/visiting/" target="_blank" ><u>Clinton, Iowa</u></a><u>,</u> has seen many cycles of boom and bust since its settlement after the Louisiana Purchase. In the 19th century, railroads and ferries were drawn to Clinton, located where the river narrows. Then timber companies bought up vast swathes of Wisconsin and Minnesota and floated logs down the river to Clinton sawmills. Wealthy from lumber, the town claimed the most millionaires per capita in the country in the late 1800s before the upper Midwest was logged out.</p><p>Agribusiness eventually supplanted them, but in recent years there were significant vacancies and empty lots in the historic downtown, which has 17 buildings listed on the National Historic Register of Places, including the Van Allen Building by Louis Sullivan.</p><p>“We are an industrial river town. We don’t hide from it. It has its war scars,” said Matt Parbs, vice president of economic and community development for Grow Clinton, a nonprofit devoted to improving the local quality of life. “We’re finding a way to leverage our stories and our assets in the last five to 10 years.”</p><h3>The power of outdoor art</h3><p>Recently, that lever has been art. Through initiatives both grass roots and public, Clinton has seized on the power of outdoor exhibitions to not just attract out-of-towners but to instill pride in local residents.</p><p>Those investments were capped with the spring unveiling of three oversized trolls made of wood and organic refuse by the Danish artist <a class="Link" href="https://www.thomasdambo.com/" target="_blank" ><u>Thomas Dambo</u></a>. (Chicagoans may be familiar with Dambo’s endearing trolls from an exhibition of them at the Morton Arboretum that closed in 2020). As Dambo tells it, the three trolls — Warren, Helmut and Marvin — woke up one morning to find the forest gone. They knew the trees had been taken to Clinton and decided to steal them back. Dispersed around the city, the roughly 20-foot-tall trolls are engaged in tree-hugging and thievery.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-440000" name="image-440000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7236375/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6702x3761+0+353/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F76%2Fcf%2F5a12cf17406c9fca81140e89a3e6%2F2026-helmut-the3thieves-by-thomas-dambo-clinton-iowa-05963-ral05201-edit.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8b75b38/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6702x3761+0+353/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F76%2Fcf%2F5a12cf17406c9fca81140e89a3e6%2F2026-helmut-the3thieves-by-thomas-dambo-clinton-iowa-05963-ral05201-edit.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ae81155/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6702x3761+0+353/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F76%2Fcf%2F5a12cf17406c9fca81140e89a3e6%2F2026-helmut-the3thieves-by-thomas-dambo-clinton-iowa-05963-ral05201-edit.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="2026-Helmut_The3Thieves_By Thomas Dambo_Clinton_Iowa-05963-RAL05201-Edit.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ae81155/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6702x3761+0+353/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F76%2Fcf%2F5a12cf17406c9fca81140e89a3e6%2F2026-helmut-the3thieves-by-thomas-dambo-clinton-iowa-05963-ral05201-edit.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/02bb4eb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6702x3761+0+353/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F76%2Fcf%2F5a12cf17406c9fca81140e89a3e6%2F2026-helmut-the3thieves-by-thomas-dambo-clinton-iowa-05963-ral05201-edit.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ae81155/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6702x3761+0+353/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F76%2Fcf%2F5a12cf17406c9fca81140e89a3e6%2F2026-helmut-the3thieves-by-thomas-dambo-clinton-iowa-05963-ral05201-edit.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Three 20-foot-tall trolls, made of wood and organic refuse by the Danish artist Thomas Dambo, are dispersed around the city. Here, Helmut carries a potted tree.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Thomas Dambo Art</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“My trolls carry a message of protecting the forest that are the lungs of our planet,” Dambo told the community in April during a presentation on the permanent installation.</p><p>Just a block from the site where Helmut carries a potted tree, are the mural-covered walls of an 8,000-square-foot former auto garage. In 2023, Clinton artists Gabi Torres and Chris Shannon had the idea to turn it into a rotating exhibition for street art, inviting muralists to come each summer and repaint the walls in an annual festival now known as <a class="Link" href="https://paintitback.org/" target="_blank" ><u>Paint It Back</u></a>.</p><p>“We thought, let us paint on it and cover it in murals and activate it with street art and see what happens,” Torres said. “At least we’ll make it beautiful.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-0b0000" name="image-0b0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/108727d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2038x1144+0+1/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F3a%2F055513124249bb905c144e9104a3%2F3-ari-lewerenz.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d8f1d7f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2038x1144+0+1/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F3a%2F055513124249bb905c144e9104a3%2F3-ari-lewerenz.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c63b666/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2038x1144+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F3a%2F055513124249bb905c144e9104a3%2F3-ari-lewerenz.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="3- Ari Lewerenz.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c63b666/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2038x1144+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F3a%2F055513124249bb905c144e9104a3%2F3-ari-lewerenz.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/40fc032/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2038x1144+0+1/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F3a%2F055513124249bb905c144e9104a3%2F3-ari-lewerenz.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c63b666/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2038x1144+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F3a%2F055513124249bb905c144e9104a3%2F3-ari-lewerenz.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Paint It Back festival, held in August, celebrates street art murals painted on the outside walls of an 8,000-square-foot former auto garage. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ari Lewerenz</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The August festival, now including events such as a fashion show, a classic car cruise and a painting contest between two artists, has grown from a couple hundred attendees to more than 2,000. This year’s event expanded to a new set of downtown walls.</p><p>Torres cut her teeth on the power of public art to transform a city in 2022 when she transformed a neglected pocket park downtown into The Grove (125 Fourth Ave. S.), which she calls an “art forest” of roughly a dozen framed paintings. It was so successful, the city took over its management.</p><p>“It’s changing people’s understanding of how art impacts rural spaces,” Torres said. “Unexpected, exceptional art in rural places like Clinton gets people talking and moves the needle.</p><h3><b>Other things to do:</b></h3><p>Explore Clinton’s seminal industry at <a class="Link" href="https://www.thesawmillmuseum.org/" target="_blank" ><u>The Sawmill Museum</u></a> (2231 Grant St.), which maintains a hands-on water table for the kids. Continue your history tour at the Victorian-era mansion built by lumber baron <a class="Link" href="https://www.curtismansion.org/" target="_blank" ><u>George M. Curtis</u></a> (420 Fifth Ave. S.).</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-250000" name="image-250000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/57f8ffc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x898+0+151/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2Fcc%2F622f9acb480688cf61a57c5e6c64%2Fclinton-lumberkings.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6af7ff7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x898+0+151/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2Fcc%2F622f9acb480688cf61a57c5e6c64%2Fclinton-lumberkings.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc8c4ee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x898+0+151/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2Fcc%2F622f9acb480688cf61a57c5e6c64%2Fclinton-lumberkings.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Clinton_Lumberkings.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc8c4ee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x898+0+151/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2Fcc%2F622f9acb480688cf61a57c5e6c64%2Fclinton-lumberkings.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b887a32/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x898+0+151/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2Fcc%2F622f9acb480688cf61a57c5e6c64%2Fclinton-lumberkings.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cc8c4ee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1600x898+0+151/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F35%2Fcc%2F622f9acb480688cf61a57c5e6c64%2Fclinton-lumberkings.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Players for the Clinton LumberKings, who play in the collegiate Prospect League, stay with local families throughout the summer season.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Visit Clinton</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Come in summer to catch the <a class="Link" href="https://lumberkings.com/landing/index" target="_blank" ><u>Clinton LumberKings</u></a>, who play in the collegiate Prospect League. Talented college players, hoping to attract Major League Baseball’s attention, stay with local families throughout the season. “It’s the best outdoor party you’re going to get all summer long,” said Parbs, of Grow Clinton.</p><p>The Mississippi remains a mighty attraction. Bike the 12-mile <a class="Link" href="https://www.traveliowa.com/trails/clinton-discovery-trail/42/" target="_blank" ><u>Clinton Discovery Trail</u></a> along the Mississippi River linking bluff-top Eagle Point Park and downtown’s Riverview Park. <a class="Link" href="https://www.facebook.com/ClintonCountyConservation" target="_blank" ><u>Clinton County Conservation</u></a> offers innovative programming such as sun printing with turmeric, butterfly-tagging, tree walks and “herping” outings to look for reptiles and amphibians. It also offers <a class="Link" href="https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Clinton/Content/Blue-Heron-Eco-Cruises" target="_blank" ><u>eco cruises</u></a> on a 24-passenger pontoon when water levels allow (Rock Creek Marina & Campground, 3942 291st St., Camanche).</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-ad0000" name="image-ad0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7e74f68/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2245+0+211/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F16%2Fd46fefa943b7b22335aa0655d910%2Fdiscovery-trail-freedom-rock-with-clinton-area-showboat-in-background.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/38786dc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2245+0+211/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F16%2Fd46fefa943b7b22335aa0655d910%2Fdiscovery-trail-freedom-rock-with-clinton-area-showboat-in-background.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3be2c6a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2245+0+211/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F16%2Fd46fefa943b7b22335aa0655d910%2Fdiscovery-trail-freedom-rock-with-clinton-area-showboat-in-background.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Discovery Trail & Freedom Rock with Clinton Area Showboat in Background.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3be2c6a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2245+0+211/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F16%2Fd46fefa943b7b22335aa0655d910%2Fdiscovery-trail-freedom-rock-with-clinton-area-showboat-in-background.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/20a633e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2245+0+211/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F16%2Fd46fefa943b7b22335aa0655d910%2Fdiscovery-trail-freedom-rock-with-clinton-area-showboat-in-background.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3be2c6a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2245+0+211/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F16%2Fd46fefa943b7b22335aa0655d910%2Fdiscovery-trail-freedom-rock-with-clinton-area-showboat-in-background.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The banks of the Mississippi River in Clinton, Iowa, where you can visit the Clinton County Freedom Rock</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Visit Clinton</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Stop for wood-fired pizzas, craft beers and views of a detailed Italian mosaic at <a class="Link" href="https://www.7hillsbrew.com/" target="_blank" ><u>7 Hills South</u></a> brewery in a restored Gothic church (238 Fourth Ave. S.).</p><p><b>Where to stay:</b><br>A throwback to the lumber boom, the <a class="Link" href="https://www.fisherhousebb.com/" target="_blank" ><u>Fisher House B&B</u></a> hosts four rooms in a remodeled 1880s Queen Anne downtown (407 Fifth Ave. S.).</p><p><i>CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated artist Thomas Dambo's nationality; he is Danish.</i> </p>

<p>Chicago Public Schools enrollment has declined once again by another 11,500 students to about 304,700, officials said Thursday in announcing preliminary data, the lowest number in more than two decades.</p><p>Enrollment had stabilized for two years — even increasing briefly — with the arrival of thousands of immigrant students in 2023 and 2024. But the trend proved short-lived as the district’s 20-year enrollment freefall resumed last year and again this fall, dwindling from its high of nearly 439,000 students in the 2002-2003 school year.</p><p>Declining enrollment — and, subsequently, underenrolled schools — have become a key issue in the city’s first-ever <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/09/24/school-board-election-2026-president-candidates-voter-guide/" target="_blank" ><u>school board president race</u></a> as some candidates suggest revisiting school closures. The district has a moratorium on closings until after this school year. Community groups rallied Thursday morning to call for the prohibition to be extended.</p><p>CPS officials are pointing to declining birth rates locally, nationally and globally, in addition to families leaving the city for the suburbs and immigrant population declines spurred by President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation policies.</p><p>“Here’s the bottom line: What we control is the quality of education and experience that we provide our students,” CPS Supt./CEO Macquline King told the Board of Education in its monthly meeting Thursday. “That’s what our families care about, and that has been my focus as superintendent/CEO.”</p><p>King said the silver lining is that, despite another decline, CPS has regained its status as the nation’s third-largest public school system.</p><p>“I know, it’s like winning because someone tripped, but we are the third largest district in the country again,” she said.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-9c0000" name="html-embed-module-9c0000"></a><div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/30355865"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script><noscript><img src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/30355865/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="chart visualization" /></noscript></div> </div> </div><p></p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-010000" name="image-010000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9d01f4d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4554x2556+0+241/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F8f%2F55ce46ba4c2eb269b495f91c75fd%2Fboardvoteceoking-260331-19.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b76be84/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4554x2556+0+241/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F8f%2F55ce46ba4c2eb269b495f91c75fd%2Fboardvoteceoking-260331-19.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aadf53b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4554x2556+0+241/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F8f%2F55ce46ba4c2eb269b495f91c75fd%2Fboardvoteceoking-260331-19.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King speaks during a Chicago Board of Education meeting in March." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aadf53b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4554x2556+0+241/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F8f%2F55ce46ba4c2eb269b495f91c75fd%2Fboardvoteceoking-260331-19.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0bd8a75/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4554x2556+0+241/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F8f%2F55ce46ba4c2eb269b495f91c75fd%2Fboardvoteceoking-260331-19.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aadf53b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4554x2556+0+241/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F22%2F8f%2F55ce46ba4c2eb269b495f91c75fd%2Fboardvoteceoking-260331-19.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King speaks during a Chicago Board of Education meeting in March.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file photo</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p></p><h3>Longtime and widespread trends</h3><p>Leaders tried to contextualize the declines by showing that public school enrollment is falling nationwide, particularly in large urban districts. From 2014 to 2024, the most significant enrollment losses have happened in Los Angeles, Houson, Chicago, Dallas and Philadelphia, according to data presented by CPS officials.</p><p>Illinois has also lost about 200,000 public school students statewide, or 10%, since 2017.</p><p>Anniese Lewis, the deputy chief education officer at CPS, said districts still have not recovered from steep declines during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>Lewis cited falling birthrates nationally that are “even more pronounced here in Chicago.”</p><p>In 2005, there were about 45,000 births in Chicago. That fell by more than 40% to around 27,000 in 2023. The district’s kindergarten cohort has shrunk by the thousands.</p><p>“Most recently, we’ve dipped below the national average,” Lewis told the board Thursday.</p><p>The district has 450,000 available seats in its schools with 455,000 school-age children in Chicago in 2024, the year with the most recent count. With the share of Chicago students enrolled in private school or classified in census data as “not enrolled” — which includes children who are homeschooled, have dropped out or are in between schools — slightly increasing, CPS has been left with more empty seats.</p><p>Between 2008 and 2018, CPS served roughly 75% of the city’s school-age population. By 2023, that had fallen to 71%, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/01/20/chicago-public-schools-enrollment-cps-birth-rates-private-school-kids-first" target="_blank" >according to a report</a> from the advocacy group Kids First Chicago.</p><p>The biggest declines over the past decade have been in some of Chicago’s immigrant community hubs, such as Pilsen, Little Village, Avondale, Brighton Park, Gage Park and McKinley Park — in some cases seeing as dramatic of decreases as 53% in the past decade, according to CPS.</p><p>“There has been a rapid gentrification leading to a steep decline in [the] youth population. Multigenerational family homes are being converted to single-family homes, reducing the availability of family housing,” Lewis said. “[And] there has been an exodus of working class families who are moving to the outer suburbs for single family homes and perceived safety.”</p><p>Those trends were apparently accelerated by the Trump administration’s damaging deportation campaign last fall. Some <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/05/28/mather-senior-laces-up-his-soccer-shoes-again-after-months-in-immigration-detention" target="_blank" >students were detained,</a> and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/02/12/no-recess-lockdowns-less-learning-how-immigration-agents-disrupted-cps-schools-this-fall" target="_blank" >federal activity around schools</a> stoked fear in immigrant communities. There <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/03/12/cps-should-work-to-prevent-future-attendance-drops-due-to-immigration-enforcement-community-groups-say" target="_blank" >were spikes in absenteeism</a> among English language learners who chose to stay home during enforcement actions. Some families considered leaving the city to escape the threat.</p><p>“While the U.S. experienced an influx of new arrivals in 2023 and 2024, this trend has now reversed dramatically,” Lewis said. “We are all familiar with the changes in immigration policy and enforcement at the federal level. Fewer people are coming into the US and more are leaving.”</p><p>At Kelly College Prep in Brighton Park, enrollment this year fell by 229 students to 1,273, according to preliminary data.</p><p>Meanwhile in the past 10 years, CPS enrollment has increased, in some cases significantly, around more affluent areas such as O’Hare, the Loop, Lincoln Park, North Center, Near South Side and Kenwood.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-d70000" name="image-d70000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6fc4c76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F0b%2Fe79c1d27430aa33822e077a28720%2Fcpsenrollment-260925-08.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6b1d9c1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F0b%2Fe79c1d27430aa33822e077a28720%2Fcpsenrollment-260925-08.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0338977/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F0b%2Fe79c1d27430aa33822e077a28720%2Fcpsenrollment-260925-08.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Students walk out after dismissal Thursday at Thomas Kelly College Preparatory High School in Brighton Park." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0338977/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F0b%2Fe79c1d27430aa33822e077a28720%2Fcpsenrollment-260925-08.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/72332ad/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F0b%2Fe79c1d27430aa33822e077a28720%2Fcpsenrollment-260925-08.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0338977/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff7%2F0b%2Fe79c1d27430aa33822e077a28720%2Fcpsenrollment-260925-08.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Students walk out after dismissal Thursday at Thomas Kelly College Preparatory High School in Brighton Park.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p></p><h3>Demographics unchanged</h3><p>The share of Latino, Black, white and Asian American students remained roughly the same among the 304,687 students enrolled at CPS on the 20th day of the school year, when the district takes its annual count.</p><p>The share of students in <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/07/18/cps-special-education-chicago-public-schools" target="_blank" ><u>special education grew again</u></a>, up to 18.4% of CPS. But the district counted slightly fewer students who are in poverty, experiencing homelessness or learning English — though officials said those numbers typically go up after the start of the school year as students’ needs are identified.</p><p>Charter and contract schools saw slightly steeper enrollment declines than district-run schools, in part because five former Acero charter schools and ChiArts transitioned to traditional CPS schools.</p><h3>School closings and the board president race</h3><p>Ever since the highly controversial and historic <a class="Link" href="https://graphics.suntimes.com/education/2023/chicagos-50-closed-schools/" target="_blank" ><u>closing of 50 schools</u></a> by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2013, closures have been a third-rail policy that most leaders have avoided suggesting.</p><p>But those conversations have reignited in this year’s school board president race, with three of four candidates indicating or outright saying they would consider school closings.</p><p>One candidate, Victor P. Henderson, responded to a WBEZ, Sun-Times and Chalkbeat candidate questionnaire that he would be open to closing schools “as an extraordinary last resort.” Sendhil Revuluri said he also would be willing to close schools to improve the experiences of students in schools that have become too small to meet their academic and social needs.</p><p>Challenger and current board member Jessica Biggs declined to say yes or no, instead saying closings should be the “last thing” leaders propose but that “budget pressure is real.” Only Hilario Dominguez, backed by the Chicago Teachers Union, said he would oppose school closings.</p><p>Evidence has shown that the 2013 closings didn’t lead to lower costs, better outcomes for students or improved conditions in communities, the Sun-Times and WBEZ <a class="Link" href="https://graphics.suntimes.com/education/2023/chicagos-50-closed-schools/" target="_blank" ><u>found in an investigation a decade later.</u></a></p><p>“We've got 25 years worth of data that demonstrates the harm done by closing schools and the people targeted when schools close,” said board member Jitu Brown, who participated in a hunger strike in 2015 to save a South Side school from closing. “Over 80% of the school closings across the United States have happened in Black neighborhoods. That means Black communities targeted. And so I'm humbly asking us to be different — to look at schools that are deemed underutilized with a different lens, as an opportunity.</p><p>“I'm hopeful that [closing schools] is not what's on the table.”</p><p><i>Contributing: Nicole Jeanine Johnson</i></p>

<p><i>Good afternoon! It’s Thursday, and as a Taylor Swift fan I’m hoping her </i><a class="Link" href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-new-music-patient-zero-934935f049893d0567713bea516f2c0c" target="_blank" ><i><u>new songs</u></i></a><i> releasing tomorrow sound like the first (better) half of last year’s album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Here’s what you need to know today.</i></p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/09/24/chicago-public-schools-enrollment-drops-by-more-than-11-000-accelerating-long-term-downward-trend" target="_blank" ><b><u>1. Chicago Public Schools enrollment dropped by more than 11,000, accelerating a long-term downward trend</u></b></a></p><p>District enrollment is down again this year to just under 304,678 students, according to preliminary data CPS officials released today. Enrollment had stabilized for two years — even increasing briefly — with the arrival of thousands of immigrant students in 2023 and 2024. But the trend proved short-lived as the district’s 20-year enrollment freefall resumed last year and again this fall, dwindling from its high of nearly 439,000 students in the 2002-2003 school year.</p><p>CPS officials are pointing to declining birth rates locally, nationally and globally, in addition to families leaving the city for the suburbs and immigrant population declines spurred by President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation policies, my colleague Nader Issa writes.</p><p>“Here’s the bottom line: What we control is the quality of education and experience that we provide our students,” CPS Supt./CEO Macquline King told the Board of Education in its monthly meeting today. “That’s what our families care about, and that has been my focus as superintendent/CEO — investing in students, improving the student experience and working with our school communities to help every student reach their potential.”</p><p>King said the silver lining is that, despite another decline, CPS has regained its status as the nation’s third largest public school system.</p><p>Declining enrollment — and, subsequently, underenrolled schools — has become a key issue in the city’s first-ever school board president race as some candidates suggest revisiting school closures. The district has a moratorium on closings until after this school year. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/24/chicago-public-schools-enrollment-drops-by-more-than-11-000-accelerating-downward-trend" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/23/chicago-school-board-member-jessica-biggs-faces-scrutiny-over-2018-firing-as-she-runs-for-presidents-seat" target="_blank" ><b><u>2. Chicago School Board member Jessica Biggs faces scrutiny over her past firing from CPS as she runs for board president</u></b></a></p><p>Biggs holds up her work leading a South Side elementary school as a top reason voters should pick her in an intense four-way race for Chicago’s first elected school board president. As Chalkbeat Chicago and WBEZ report, that’s despite her firing from that job as principal at Burke Elementary in 2018; until recently, she was banned from working for the Chicago Public Schools.</p><p>Biggs has long maintained she was terminated based on a rushed internal investigation after openly criticizing problematic CPS practices. But all three opponents in the race to lead the 21-member school board have highlighted her dismissal, arguing it’s disqualifying.</p><p>A Chalkbeat and WBEZ review of the 2018 district inspector general’s report, CPS data and all available court records, including transcripts, plus interviews with at least a dozen district officials, educators, experts and others, show a more nuanced picture: At Biggs’ direction, Burke staff improperly marked some students tardy when they arrived late enough that they should have been flagged as absent for half the day. An uptick in the school’s attendance rate under Biggs helped improve a high-stakes rating given to the school at the time.</p><p>But the inspector general’s report does not lay out a full-blown conspiracy to cheat, and it’s hard to say how much of the attendance bump came from mislabeling students versus a concerted effort to get kids to school. The watchdog recommended Biggs be disciplined but did not suggest she be fired. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/23/chicago-school-board-member-jessica-biggs-faces-scrutiny-over-2018-firing-as-she-runs-for-presidents-seat" target="_blank" ><u>Chalkbeat Chicago/WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/grave-injustice/explainer-south-chicago-chapel-funeral-home-illinois-comptroller-regulation-oversight-charges" target="_blank" ><b><u>3. What happened at South Chicago Chapel after decomposing bodies were found?</u></b></a></p><p>A hearing took place today in a lawsuit against the South Deering funeral home after the grisly discovery of 56 bodies last month. The case has raised concerns about the regulation of Illinois funeral homes: How did such neglect happen, and what’s being done about it?</p><p>As my colleague Amy Yee explains, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation regulates funeral directors and embalmers. The department can conduct in-person inspections without receiving a tip, but it is a complaint-driven agency and does not conduct periodic inspections on all facilities, according to the department. Apparently no state agency oversees funeral homes at their physical locations, officials said.</p><p>The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation suspended South Chicago Chapel owner Johanna Morgan’s funeral director and embalmer’s license, and the agency is seeking to revoke it permanently. The department alleged South Chicago Chapel let “multiple decedents to be kept in an unrefrigerated area with deplorable conditions, including rodent infestation, causing decomposition and maggot infestation of the bodies.”</p><p>In early 2025, the state shut down Heights Crematory in Chicago Heights, also operated by Morgan and her husband, Clark Morgan, for mishandling the remains of about 100 people. That prompted a new state law expanding the regulatory authority of the Illinois comptroller’s office, which, in a quirk of state responsibilities, oversees crematories in addition to its fiscal duties.</p><p>Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza spearheaded legislation that gives her office more investigative authority over crematories. The bill was signed into law this summer and takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/grave-injustice/explainer-south-chicago-chapel-funeral-home-illinois-comptroller-regulation-oversight-charges" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/culture-the-arts/classical/2026/09/24/chicago-symphony-orchestra-cso-rebrand-nonprofit-logo-music-classical" target="_blank" ><b><u>4. CSO debuted a new logo and bold red usher uniforms in its next-generation rebrand</u></b></a></p><p>The nonprofit parent organization of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra announced a rebrand today meant to usher in a new era for the city’s preeminent classical music company. It features a new naming convention and, for the first time in 30 years, a new logo, WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers reports.</p><p>Music fans will also notice updated red uniforms for the ushers who greet and seat guests. While the rest of the changes are mostly subtle to the audience, company leaders said the rebrand is meant to clarify the organization’s identity and is part of a broader strategy to attract younger, more diverse audiences.</p><p>The orchestra’s iconic Michigan Avenue home will now be dubbed the Chicago Symphony Center, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association will now be known as Chicago Symphony. That umbrella brand oversees the esteemed Chicago Symphony Orchestra (no name change here), as well as the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the training ensemble, Civic Orchestra of Chicago. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/culture-the-arts/classical/2026/09/24/chicago-symphony-orchestra-cso-rebrand-nonprofit-logo-music-classical" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/arts/2026/09/24/yayoi-kusamas-infinity-mirror-rooms-wrightwood-659" target="_blank" ><b><u>5. Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms returns to Chicago this fall at Wrightwood 659</u></b></a></p><p>As my colleague Courtney Kueppers reports, the boutique art museum in Lincoln Park is currently displaying two of the colorful, reflective and immersive artworks from the wildly popular Japanese artist, who died last month at 97.</p><p>“Inner Worlds: Visions from the Hirshhorn Collection” opens tomorrow and runs through Dec. 19 at Wrightwood 659, currently the city’s only location to experience Kusama’s mirrored rooms. (I remember seeing her work at Chicago’s WNDR Museum, which featured infinity room “LOVE IS CALLING” before closing for good this month.)</p><p>While Kusama developed the Infinity Mirror Rooms for decades (the show at Wrightwood 659 features her first, from 1965), they gained widespread popularity in 2017, when “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors” toured the U.S. The show drew record attendance and generated internet buzz, with visitors posting their mirrored art selfies to Instagram.</p><p>The moment helped solidify Kusama’s place in art history and pop culture. Her personal appearance — a blunt red bob and colorful dresses with geometric patterns — became as instantly recognizable as the polka dots and pumpkins often featured in her work. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/arts/2026/09/24/yayoi-kusamas-infinity-mirror-rooms-wrightwood-659" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><b>Here’s what else is happening</b></p><ul class="rte2-style-ul" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" id="rte-bb6dbcc3-b858-11f1-a5ae-756d4f357382"><li>CNN, MS NOW and Politico are back at the White House after a judge ordered President Donald Trump to lift his ban on the media outlets. [<a class="Link" href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-ban-judge-ruling-cnn-msnow-politico-21605e397fe48f178a4afa037e732c6d" target="_blank" ><u>AP</u></a>]</li><li>Mortgage rates surpassed 7% for the first time in well over a year. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.npr.org/2026/09/24/nx-s1-5977796/mortgage-rates-freddie-mac-homebuying" target="_blank" ><u>NPR</u></a>]</li><li>A recently identified Idaho man who died in 1982 — known as the “Unknown Wanderer” — could have ties to the four-decade-old Tylenol murders case, in which seven Chicago-area residents died after ingesting cyanide-laced Tylenol. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/09/23/tylenol-murders-new-lead-idaho-man" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</li><li>Review: “The Humanities” looks away from the campus culture wars it purports to interrogate. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/theater/2026/09/24/review-the-humanities-victory-gardens-zayd-ayers-dorhn-chicago-theater-campus-free-speech" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</li></ul><p><b>Oh, and one more thing …</b></p><p>The Joffrey Ballet’s “Liliom,” which closes Sunday, kicks off a fall season of dance in Chicago that’s busier than a tap solo, with many out-of-town companies touring through the Harris or Auditorium Theaters and the homegrown dancers all fielding intriguing new-to-Chicago material.</p><p>If you have to whittle down the offerings to a manageable few, WBEZ contributor Graham Meyer has you covered with suggestions.</p><p>There’s the Dance Theatre of Harlem at the Auditorium Theatre on Oct. 17 with a revival of the Black-focused ballet company’s “Firebird,” a Russian folktale where the titular bird catalyzes the triumph of good over evil. In November, “Sol Invictus” visits the Harris Theater with its mix of contemporary dance, gymnastics, capoeira, cheer and breaking.</p><p>You can see the full list in the link. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/dance/2026/09/24/dance-guide-performances-to-see-chicago-things-to-do" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><b>Tell me something good …</b></p><p>What is your favorite place to buy books in the Chicago area?</p><p>Christopher writes:</p><p>“My favorite place used to be the huge Kroch & Brentano’s store on Wabash Avenue in the Loop. On our many trips to the Loop my mom would take me there and I would love searching the shelves for new books I hadn’t seen before. My favorite sections were Humor, Science Fiction & Fantasy. Also enjoyed Movies & TV and the Art sections. It is where I got most of my Peanuts, Mad, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Doc Savage paperbacks from.”</p><p>Lisa writes:</p><p>“Hyde Park is filled with great ones, especially 57th Street Books, the Seminary Co-op, and Call and Response — all independent and wonderful to patronize.”</p><p>Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.</p>

<p>The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is one of those buildings that just looks good from all sides and angles — graced with perfect siting, courtesy of Daniel Burnham, and a great Greek Revival design by the hand of architect Charles Atwood.</p><p>The south side of the building is the winning view, of course, with that portico and the Columbia basin shimmering in front of it.</p><p>But the museum's primary elevation along 57th Street is the one everyone sees. It's an impressive neo-classical expanse behind a park-like front yard and punctuated by a colonnaded entry porch fit for the nobles of antiquity — or today's gaggle of school kids.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-bf0000" name="image-bf0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/07c3155/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+739/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F68%2Fd33a6a1f4bb6bece11063aa6ccf9%2Fmsinorth-260921-4.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/066c8d7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+739/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F68%2Fd33a6a1f4bb6bece11063aa6ccf9%2Fmsinorth-260921-4.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e97f4d4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+739/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F68%2Fd33a6a1f4bb6bece11063aa6ccf9%2Fmsinorth-260921-4.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The main entrance of the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e97f4d4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+739/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F68%2Fd33a6a1f4bb6bece11063aa6ccf9%2Fmsinorth-260921-4.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ac98caf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+739/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F68%2Fd33a6a1f4bb6bece11063aa6ccf9%2Fmsinorth-260921-4.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e97f4d4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+739/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb7%2F68%2Fd33a6a1f4bb6bece11063aa6ccf9%2Fmsinorth-260921-4.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The main entrance of the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>It's a near-perfect view that shouldn't be spoiled. But that's exactly what the Museum of Science and Industry officials have now put themselves at risk of doing.</p><p>The museum this month released plans to construct a limestone and glass "Welcome Hall" on the building's front lawn, right smack in front of that grand entrance. And it's not a small addition either. </p><p>The new hall would be almost 30-feet tall and a whopping 458-feet — nearly three-quarters of a city block — in length: A big old wide-brimmed hat blocking the screen at the movie theater.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-f90000" name="image-f90000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f2e74fa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4006x2248+0+1/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F85%2F83%2Fa2afd723478bb42c2e6d148413b5%2Frs62792.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90da9ad/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4006x2248+0+1/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F85%2F83%2Fa2afd723478bb42c2e6d148413b5%2Frs62792.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bed9fe7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4006x2248+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F85%2F83%2Fa2afd723478bb42c2e6d148413b5%2Frs62792.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Rendering of the museum's new Welcome Hall would feature a grass-topped roof." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bed9fe7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4006x2248+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F85%2F83%2Fa2afd723478bb42c2e6d148413b5%2Frs62792.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5eb9b7f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4006x2248+0+1/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F85%2F83%2Fa2afd723478bb42c2e6d148413b5%2Frs62792.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bed9fe7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4006x2248+0+1/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F85%2F83%2Fa2afd723478bb42c2e6d148413b5%2Frs62792.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Rendering of the museum’s new Welcome Hall would feature a grass-topped roof.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Courtesy of Alden Studios for RAMSA</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>"The vision behind the Welcome Hall is to make the guest experience more accessible and enjoyable by creating a simpler path into the building while centering the historic facade as part of the arrival experience," the museum said in a statement.</p><p>But in doing so, the museum and its design firm RAMSA are expressing these noble goals with an ungainly and unattractive entry pavilion that visually overpowers the building's historic north entrance and its beautiful, open front lawn.</p><p>The building threatens to foul-up one of the city's great urban vistas — a remarkable blend of architecture, land, sky and history. One that looks just fine the way it is.</p><p>The whole thing should be sent back to the drawing board.</p><p>The museum and the Jackson Park green space it sits on so effortlessly came at great cost. And they belong to the public.</p><p>Built as the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and the fair's only surviving building, the edifice was saved from utter ruin by a $5 million effort — $130 million in today's money — that restored the structure and allowed it to reopen in 1933 as the Museum of Science and Industry.</p><p>The park in front of the museum was created in 1998 when a 6-acre surface parking lot — an eyesore if there ever was one — was replaced with a 1,500-space underground parking facility, costing nearly $120 million in current-day cash.</p><p>The garage gives drivers below-ground entrance to the museum, but its design also forces those who don't arrive by car to go down into the space to buy tickets, then take an escalator up into the museum.</p><p>The glass-faced Welcome Hall would link to the museum via a 124-foot glass connection that burrows straight through the center of the building's exterior stairs.</p><p>Visitors could still enter the museum through what remains of the stairs, but it's a little tough to see that historic rise of limestone just being gouged through like that.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-030000" name="image-030000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f72da26/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+2/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd5%2Fd3%2Fda539d624d64af229330ecb9a879%2Frs63163.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8ce9986/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+2/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd5%2Fd3%2Fda539d624d64af229330ecb9a879%2Frs63163.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/93e1d0a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+2/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd5%2Fd3%2Fda539d624d64af229330ecb9a879%2Frs63163.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Rendering of the remodeled entry, with escalators in the center, inside the museum." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/93e1d0a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+2/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd5%2Fd3%2Fda539d624d64af229330ecb9a879%2Frs63163.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/eb23cdd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+2/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd5%2Fd3%2Fda539d624d64af229330ecb9a879%2Frs63163.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/93e1d0a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+2/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd5%2Fd3%2Fda539d624d64af229330ecb9a879%2Frs63163.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Welcome Hall would lead to a remodeled entry inside the museum.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Courtesy of Alden Studios for RAMSA</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>RAMSA's design puts a new glass wall behind the entry porch's columns and retains the existing stone wall that's behind them.</p><p>Granite floors are planned for the entry pavilion, and the building's metal arched roof would be planted with grass.</p><p>"The glass entryway and surrounding outdoor space will be free and open to everyone," the museum said. "Throughout the development of this project, Griffin MSI has been engaging with local community, accessibility and historic preservation groups and receiving feedback and support."</p><p>This is laudable. The museum and RAMSA are correct in wanting to create more free and accessible spaces and improve what is a cumbersome entry process.</p><p>But the proposed design can't be the only way to go about it.</p><p>The Permit Review Committee of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks approved the museum's plan on Sept. 10, agreeing with the assessment by the Department of Planning and Development's Historic Preservation Division that the Welcome Hall "will not have an adverse effect on the significant historical and architectural features of the landmark property."</p><p>I couldn't disagree more. The Welcome Hall is too tall and much too wide. It promises to sit there like a carbuncle in the park. And its arched grass roof makes the structure resemble a displaced section of Teletubbyland.</p><p>There's enough time, talent and cash on the table to develop something far better, given the design power of RAMSA — the late Robert A.M. Stern's successor firm — and whatever portion is left of hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin's <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2019/10/3/20896953/museum-of-science-industry-changing-name-125-million-gift-ken-griffin" >$124 million 2019 donation</a> to the museum that's still burning a hole in its pockets. </p><p>RAMSA's previously announced proposed South Portico <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/architecture-design/2026/06/23/griffin-museum-science-industry-reopen-south-entrance-portico-after-century" target="_blank" >renovation plan</a> seems to be more appropriate and less monumental in approach, according to the latest renderings.</p><p>The Welcome Hall plan doesn't have to replicate that, but the design is some early evidence that a more sensitive approach on the north side is possible.</p><p>Approval from the Chicago Park District would be needed for the Welcome Hall to become a reality.</p><p>But the plan doesn't deserve to get that far. The museum and city landmarks officials must rethink this thing and come up with an approach that properly honors this world-famous building and its important site.</p><p><i>This story has been updated to correctly reflect the Chicago Park District will approve the Welcome Hall design.</i></p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/architecture-design/2026/06/23/griffin-museum-science-industry-reopen-south-entrance-portico-after-century" >Back door no more: Museum of Science and Industry seeks to reopen its south entrance after a century</a> </li> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2019/10/3/20896953/museum-of-science-industry-changing-name-125-million-gift-ken-griffin" >Museum of Science and Industry changing name after $125M gift from Ken Griffin</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p></p>

<p>Sometimes in theater, timing is everything. I've seen that work in a playwright's favor, such as a play about a Queen (“<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/theater-stages/2024/11/09/coronation-play-laura-winters-women-presidency-packs-a-punch-after-trumps-win" target="_blank" ><u>Coronation</u></a>” by Refracted Theatre), premiering in the weeks after Trump's 2024 election.</p><p>In other cases, writing plays on slippery and ever-changing contemporary themes can put pressure on the writer to do more to respond to the moment.</p><p>That's what happened the last time Zayd Ayers Dohrn premiered a play. “<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2025/10/14/goodman-theatre-revolution-review-tom-morello-zayd-ayers-dorhn-chicago-stages" target="_blank" ><u>Revolution(s)</u></a>” opened at Goodman Theatre in the height of Operation Midway Blitz, and, despite the title, it failed to say anything revolutionary. </p><p>Dohrn, who commendably likes to write about current events, has a new play called "The Humanities," premiering at Victory Gardens, that takes place in the aftermath of a problematic speaker being invited to the fictional Lincoln University.</p><p>The problematic speaker, Luka (Daniil Krimer), is underwritten. We know he is a former student of a professor named Martin (Steve Pickering) and has been influenced by the professor's lectures. Martin gives one such lecture during the play about ideology and how groups have influence over individuals.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-380000" name="image-380000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d2676e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+734/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F38%2F892d22104f829fc0063379942d9e%2Fdaniil-krimer-credit-michael-brosilow.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/50a9ac2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+734/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F38%2F892d22104f829fc0063379942d9e%2Fdaniil-krimer-credit-michael-brosilow.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/279c78b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+734/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F38%2F892d22104f829fc0063379942d9e%2Fdaniil-krimer-credit-michael-brosilow.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Daniil Krimer, Credit Michael Brosilow.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/279c78b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+734/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F38%2F892d22104f829fc0063379942d9e%2Fdaniil-krimer-credit-michael-brosilow.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/673dd46/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+734/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F38%2F892d22104f829fc0063379942d9e%2Fdaniil-krimer-credit-michael-brosilow.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/279c78b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+734/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F38%2F892d22104f829fc0063379942d9e%2Fdaniil-krimer-credit-michael-brosilow.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>In “The Humanities,” Daniil Krimer portrays a problematic speaker invited to make a university speech. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Photo by Michael Brosilow</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="RatingCard Enhancement" data-module data-rating="2.5" data-align-center> <div class="RatingCard-title"> "The Humanities" </div> <div class="RatingCard-content"> <span class="RatingCard-star"> <span class="RatingCard-star-full"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star-half"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star"> <span class="RatingCard-star-full"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star-half"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star"> <span class="RatingCard-star-full"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star-half"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star"> <span class="RatingCard-star-full"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> <span class="RatingCard-star-half"> <svg class=""> <use xlink:href="#icon-star"></use> </svg> </span> </span> </div> </div><p></p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-ef0000" name="module-ef0000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><b>When:</b> Through Oct. 4<br><b>Where:</b> <a class="Link" href="https://victorygardens.org/event/the-humanities-world-premiere/" target="_blank" >Victory Gardens Theater,</a> 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.<br><b>Info:</b> Tickets from $25</div> </div><p>So much of the story builds towards Luka’s on-campus speech, yet the production doesn’t fully flesh out who he is, explicitly state his ideology or clearly explain why he became a provocateur in the first place. All of this seems to be skirted in favor of dissecting the blowback of the invitation itself. Quite frankly, that’s not as interesting.</p><p>The majority of the action revolves around how the campus faculty and students react to the invited speaker. The University ends up doing damage control, as the speech lands days before its $2.5B capital campaign. The students meanwhile gear up for a mass protest that leads to violence and arrests.</p><p>The production arrives in Chicago just days after the one-year anniversary of the death of college campus provocateur Charlie Kirk, whose “Prove Me Wrong Debates” at universities around the country made him a celebrity and a victim. Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. It also premieres weeks after Milo Yiannopoulos, a former Breitbart News editor also known for speaking on college campuses, was deported.</p><p>And yet again, in the looming shadow of real world events, Dohrn’s work misses the mark. The production meanders its way to the big speech where the former student-turned-provocateur Luka argues he’s “not a white supremacist,” but a “western supremacist” who believes in democracy. The actual speech is much too tepid to cause protests even in this fictional world and is a misrepresentation of students who feel they must protest campus speakers in the actual world, especially around such topics as genocide, immigration and human rights.</p><p>In the dialogue, we hear accusations that colleges indoctrinate students, that they contribute to culture wars, and that campuses are no longer public squares for the debate of differing ideals. It’s a fair stance to take. But crafting a play around the blowback a university faces for inviting a speaker is much easier, and far less risky, than parsing why students feel the speaker is problematic and examining the complexities of conflicting ideas on stage.</p><p>There are productions that thread this needle well. Theater Wit recently staged Itamar Moses’ “The Ally.” In that play, a problematic speaker at a fictional university makes a lengthy argument on behalf of the State of Israel — which takes guts to stage in an American theater in a progressive city in 2026. His argument gets countered by a Palestinian student, born and raised in Gaza in a production that does more to take risks and give space to uncomfortable and polarizing opinions.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-720000" name="image-720000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4c55299/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+412/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F82%2Faf%2Fd813d1b64a1995337701255ea3c6%2Fsteve-pickering-naomi-evens-ernest-bentley-credit-michael-brosilow-1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/96f6ab9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+412/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F82%2Faf%2Fd813d1b64a1995337701255ea3c6%2Fsteve-pickering-naomi-evens-ernest-bentley-credit-michael-brosilow-1.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3e40d05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+412/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F82%2Faf%2Fd813d1b64a1995337701255ea3c6%2Fsteve-pickering-naomi-evens-ernest-bentley-credit-michael-brosilow-1.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Steve Pickering, Naomi Evans, Ernest Bentley, Credit Michael Brosilow (1).jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3e40d05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+412/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F82%2Faf%2Fd813d1b64a1995337701255ea3c6%2Fsteve-pickering-naomi-evens-ernest-bentley-credit-michael-brosilow-1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/09c0dca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+412/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F82%2Faf%2Fd813d1b64a1995337701255ea3c6%2Fsteve-pickering-naomi-evens-ernest-bentley-credit-michael-brosilow-1.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3e40d05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7818x4388+0+412/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F82%2Faf%2Fd813d1b64a1995337701255ea3c6%2Fsteve-pickering-naomi-evens-ernest-bentley-credit-michael-brosilow-1.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Steve Pickering, Naomi Evans and Ernest Bentley in a scene from “The Humanities.”</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Photo by Michael Brosilow </p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>There are, however, bright spots in the production. The acting was stellar, led by Chicago theater vet Steve Pickering. He’s the aging college professor who sparks the action of the play when he invites a former student to speak on campus. Pickering displays an outstanding ability to incorporate character ticks, and subtle nuances in delivering lines with flair or different pitches of voice — things that may go unnoticed individually, but as a whole, build a character that is believable and lived-in. Bringing him back from retirement was a great choice.</p><p>Ernest Bently is masterful as Jonas, a young hotshot Ivy Leaguer whom Martin has hired as an assistant professor in his department. Jonas is ambitious, astute, and keenly aware of how the university is positioning him because of his race — going so far as agreeing to moderate the talk with Luka in exchange for a faster track to tenure.</p><p>One of the most interesting threads in the play is the love triangle between Jonas, Martin and Martin’s wife, Margot (Naomi Evans), an art professor. In an early scene, Margot propositions Jonas to join the couple for a sexual encounter — rather, Margot and Jonas will participate, with Martin watching. With all the shifting dynamics of race, power, and age (Martin and Margot being much older than Jonas), this throuple is a compelling part of the narrative. Here, director Edward Torres shines. The scenes with these actors, throughout the production, were some of the most riveting in the show.</p><p>“The Humanities” has terrific acting, interesting subplots and provides plenty of chuckles. But unfortunately for Dohrn, it’s an issue of production mistiming (to be fair, he wrote this in 2019). Crafting a story around campus culture wars without mentioning any significant topics of debate, while so many in the audience are collectively experiencing these things in our real lives, makes what ends up on stage feel hollow.</p>

<p>The nonprofit parent organization of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra announced a rebrand Thursday, meant to usher in a new era for the city’s preeminent classical music company. It features a new naming convention and, for the first time in 30 years, a new logo.</p><p>Music fans will also notice updated red uniforms for the ushers who greet and seat guests. And while the rest of the changes are mostly subtle from the audience perspective, company leaders say the rebrand is meant to clarify the organization’s identity and is part of a broader strategy to attract younger, more diverse audiences.</p><div class="Enhancement FormEnhancement" data-align-center> <div id="Form-newsletter-wrapper" class="Form-newsletter-wrapper" data-module data-has-background ><a class="AnchorLink" id="custom-form-c10000" name="custom-form-c10000"></a><bsp-form class="Form-newsletter" data-form-container data-has-background style="--color-form-background: #e8dbed;; --color-form-link: var(--link-color); --color-form-link-hover: var(--color-link-text-hover); " data-ajax-submit="true"> <div class="Form-newsletter-logo"> <picture data-crop=""> <source type="image/webp" width="840" height="555" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8d5b965/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a4ff6fd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/1680x1110!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="840" height="555" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d21ec76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="GR-wordmark-RGB-DKgreen-Newsletter.png" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d21ec76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aaee62a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/1680x1110!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 2x" width="840" height="555" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d21ec76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png" loading="lazy" > </picture> </div> <div class="Form-newsletter-text-wrapper"> <div class="Form-newsletter-title"> Green Room Newsletter </div> <div class="Form-newsletter-submissionSuccess"> <p><b>You’re subscribed!</b></p><p></p><p>Please check your inbox for your confirmation.</p> </div> <div class="Form-newsletter-description">Stay ahead of what’s hitting Chicago stages, galleries, museums and more with Green Room, WBEZ’s weekly arts & culture newsletter!</div> <div class="Form-newsletter-errorMessage"><p>Sorry, there was an error registering your email.</p></div> </div> <form data-ajax-endpoint="https://sfmc-subscribe.wbez.org/v1/subscription" class="Form-newsletter-form" method="POST" > <div class="Form-newsletter-item"> <div class="EmailInput"><label class="EmailInput-label"><span>Email</span> <input class="EmailInput-input" type="email" name="email" placeholder="name@email.com" required aria-required="true"> </label> </div> <button class="Button" type="submit">Submit </button> </div> <div class="Form-items-item"> <input type="hidden" name="acquisition_campaign" value="ARTS_Affordance"> </div> <div class="Form-newsletter-disclaimer"> <p>By subscribing, you agree with WBEZ’s <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/terms-of-use" target="_blank" >Terms of Use</a> and <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/privacy-policy" target="_blank" >Privacy Policy</a></p> </div> </form> </bsp-form> </div> </div><p>The orchestra’s iconic Michigan Avenue home will now be dubbed “Chicago Symphony Center.”</p><p>What was once the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association will now be known as Chicago Symphony. That umbrella brand oversees both the esteemed Chicago Symphony Orchestra (no name change here), as well as the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the training ensemble, Civic Orchestra of Chicago.</p><p>The changes come as the CSO prepares to welcome its new, buzzy music director, <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/culture-the-arts/classical/2026/03/05/chicago-symphony-orchestras-2026-27-season-yo-yo-ma-beethoven-klaus-makela-andrew-bird" target="_blank" ><u>Klaus Mäkelä</u></a>, who will officially step into the role next fall. Mäkelä has <a class="Link" href="https://cso.org/performances/26-27/cso/makela-conducts-sibelius-shostakovich/" target="_blank" ><u>several dates on this fall’s performance calendar</u></a> starting this weekend when he’ll conduct works by Sibelius and Shostakovich.</p><p>The organization’s president, Jeff Alexander, said the rebrand is “really to focus everything we do on the words ‘Chicago Symphony,’ which are so important to us.”</p><p>The identity shift is part of an overarching strategy to reach broader audiences, like classical organizations across the country are similarly attempting, and make the brand feel more accessible.</p><p>“This is an opportunity for us to clarify who we are, and it allows us to reintroduce ourselves as the organization Chicago Symphony and really lay the foundation for the next decade and beyond,” said Ryan Lewis, the organization’s head of marketing and sales. “We want people to feel welcome, that everyone belongs, that they feel a sense of excitement about the future.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-bb0000" name="image-bb0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a298745/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+158/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F0a%2F2e%2Fd78e17b24fb28029f03b8cc2d63d%2Fmakela-040524-21.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0c8ab97/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+158/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F0a%2F2e%2Fd78e17b24fb28029f03b8cc2d63d%2Fmakela-040524-21.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbd1f8f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+158/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F0a%2F2e%2Fd78e17b24fb28029f03b8cc2d63d%2Fmakela-040524-21.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs Dmitri Shostakovich’s ‘Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 107’ at the Symphony Center's Orchestra Hall in The Loop, Thursday, April 4, 2024. " srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbd1f8f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+158/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F0a%2F2e%2Fd78e17b24fb28029f03b8cc2d63d%2Fmakela-040524-21.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/51d2171/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+158/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F0a%2F2e%2Fd78e17b24fb28029f03b8cc2d63d%2Fmakela-040524-21.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbd1f8f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1684+0+158/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F0a%2F2e%2Fd78e17b24fb28029f03b8cc2d63d%2Fmakela-040524-21.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>As the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s nonprofit parent organization rebrands, leaders hope it will help attract new audiences.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The organization will retire its signature logo — a black “C” in the style of a musical clef, first introduced in the 1990s — in favor of a red logo that features a subtle music note motif, in what the organization is calling “an identity with a more modern expression.”</p><p>The rebrand project began about four years ago, said Lewis, in an attempt to clarify confusion around the organization’s many brand identities. That includes the concert series featuring guest artists and ensembles, which will now be known as Chicago Symphony Presents (formerly called Symphony Center Presents). Here, performances stretch beyond orchestral music to include jazz concerts, chamber music and piano recitals.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddq76xul0gU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddq76xul0gU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a></div></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> </div> </div></div><p>The Chicago Symphony name will also be added to the internal Negaunee Music Institute, which powers music education and <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/music/2025/10/23/notes-peace-chicago-gun-violence-memorial-chicago-cso-symphony-orchestra-purpose-over-pain" target="_blank" ><u>community programming</u></a>.</p><p>In a further effort to welcome younger music fans, the organization also recently announced its latest <a class="Link" href="https://cso.org/concerts-tickets/tickets-subscriptions/student-tickets/college-night/" target="_blank" ><u>slate of programming</u></a> aimed at teens and college students.</p><p>The organization also announced this week that it had reached a three-year contract agreement with the musicians’ union, represented by the Chicago Federation of Musicians, Local 10-208 of the American Federation of Musicians.</p><p>Alexander called it “a sensible agreement in today's economic climate.”</p><p>BJ Levy, the local union’s president, added: “It's a contract that recognizes the value of the musicians, keeps up with inflation, and acknowledges the depth of talent and the amount of work that's required to be in an orchestra at the level of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.”</p><p><i>Courtney Kueppers is an arts and culture reporter at WBEZ. </i></p>

<p>Comedian Lil Rel Howery has come a long way from Chicago’s West Side and from his early days as a standup comic here. But lately, he’s spent a lot of time on screen, with credits that include a role in Jordan Peele’s Academy Award-winning film “Get Out,” NBC’s “The Carmichael Show” and even his own sitcom, “Rel,” on FOX.</p><p>Now, he’s coming home. Last weekend, Howery filmed his latest standup special at Black Ensemble Theatre. The homecoming show is part of the <a class="Link" href="https://events.eventnoire.com/profile/whats-funny-comedy" target="_blank" ><u>What’s Funny Comedy Festival</u></a>, running through Sept. 26, which Howery cofounded with his former manager Knowledge Beckom.</p><div class="Enhancement FormEnhancement" data-align-center> <div id="Form-newsletter-wrapper" class="Form-newsletter-wrapper" data-module data-has-background ><a class="AnchorLink" id="custom-form-c10000" name="custom-form-c10000"></a><bsp-form class="Form-newsletter" data-form-container data-has-background style="--color-form-background: #e8dbed;; --color-form-link: var(--link-color); --color-form-link-hover: var(--color-link-text-hover); " data-ajax-submit="true"> <div class="Form-newsletter-logo"> <picture data-crop=""> <source type="image/webp" width="840" height="555" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8d5b965/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a4ff6fd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/1680x1110!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="840" height="555" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d21ec76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="GR-wordmark-RGB-DKgreen-Newsletter.png" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d21ec76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aaee62a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/1680x1110!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 2x" width="840" height="555" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d21ec76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png" loading="lazy" > </picture> </div> <div class="Form-newsletter-text-wrapper"> <div class="Form-newsletter-title"> Green Room Newsletter </div> <div class="Form-newsletter-submissionSuccess"> <p><b>You’re subscribed!</b></p><p></p><p>Please check your inbox for your confirmation.</p> </div> <div class="Form-newsletter-description">Stay ahead of what’s hitting Chicago stages, galleries, museums and more with Green Room, WBEZ’s weekly arts & culture newsletter!</div> <div class="Form-newsletter-errorMessage"><p>Sorry, there was an error registering your email.</p></div> </div> <form data-ajax-endpoint="https://sfmc-subscribe.wbez.org/v1/subscription" class="Form-newsletter-form" method="POST" > <div class="Form-newsletter-item"> <div class="EmailInput"><label class="EmailInput-label"><span>Email</span> <input class="EmailInput-input" type="email" name="email" placeholder="name@email.com" required aria-required="true"> </label> </div> <button class="Button" type="submit">Submit </button> </div> <div class="Form-items-item"> <input type="hidden" name="acquisition_campaign" value="ARTS_Affordance"> </div> <div class="Form-newsletter-disclaimer"> <p>By subscribing, you agree with WBEZ’s <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/terms-of-use" target="_blank" >Terms of Use</a> and <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/privacy-policy" target="_blank" >Privacy Policy</a></p> </div> </form> </bsp-form> </div> </div><p>“Some of the best musicals I've ever seen have been at Black Ensemble,” said Howery. “I've been on Broadway. I've seen a lot of stuff. Nothing is better than a <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/theater-stages/2025/03/11/black-ensemble-theater-jackie-taylor-uptown-clark-new-development" target="_blank" ><u>Jackie Taylor</u></a> show. I'm really hoping to build a relationship with them beyond just this special.”</p><p>Beckom said the festival came about organically. In 2024, he casually mentioned the idea of a comedy festival to Howery, who just so happened to be looking for a way to give back to Chicago. “Once I understood where he was at, and where I wanted to go, it just made sense,” said Beckom. “We've been at it ever since.”</p><p>This year's festival — hosted through Saturday at venues across Chicago — brings together experienced comedians and up-and-comers, such as Baltimore's Cheja “Che Che” Tucker. The fest will honor legend Bill Bellamy with the 2026 Icon Award.</p><p>“We want a blended festival,” said Beckom. “I don’t want 90% men. I want women comics. About 40% of people performing this year are from out of town. We're looking at them beyond just being funny on stage, but who looks like they have a story to tell? Chicago's always been the market to show people who's up next.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-740000" name="image-740000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9de8177/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F25%2F66%2F8c2e45fb4fa19058006163a17553%2Flilrel-260919-03.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6a33f79/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F25%2F66%2F8c2e45fb4fa19058006163a17553%2Flilrel-260919-03.png 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0bb1def/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F25%2F66%2F8c2e45fb4fa19058006163a17553%2Flilrel-260919-03.png" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Knowledge Beckom at the Chicago Public Media office at 848 E Grand Ave at Navy Pier, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. " srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0bb1def/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F25%2F66%2F8c2e45fb4fa19058006163a17553%2Flilrel-260919-03.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/14bafa0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F25%2F66%2F8c2e45fb4fa19058006163a17553%2Flilrel-260919-03.png 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0bb1def/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F25%2F66%2F8c2e45fb4fa19058006163a17553%2Flilrel-260919-03.png" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>“I don’t want 90% men,” Knowledge Beckom said of the comedy festival. “I want women comics. About 40% of people performing this year are from out of town. We’re looking at them beyond just being funny on stage, but who looks like they have a story to tell?”</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Even with the heavy crop of talent traveling for the festival, the headline event will be the taping of Howery’s new special. And the content of his performance will hit close to home.</p><p>“My dad passed in January, and while I was planning the funeral, comedy kept showing up,” he said. “I told my brother after the funeral, ‘I want to do a special dedicated to dad.’ Everything I'm doing the next few weeks in Chicago — the comedy festival, and I’m shooting a limited series that I wrote and created — it's a love letter to my family. It's my love letter to Chicago and to the way I grew up.”</p><p>Chicago has established itself as a premier destination for comedy and for standups, specifically Black standups. The city's clubs provide a fertile training ground where many notable comics earned their stripes.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed> <iframe width="113" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RYU0A1N_x9k?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="Lil Rel explains why Chicago is home to the best comedians"></iframe> </div> </div></div><p>“People get mad when we say this, but the best comedians come out of Chicago,” said Howery. “And the reason, I believe, is because of how segregated Chicago is. You have to know how to make so many different people laugh in this city, and not just Black people. Once you figure out that I can go to any spot in the city and make people laugh. … Chicago did this for me — I was able to be so confident coming to L.A. and going to New York because Chicago made me feel like a star already.”</p><p> Howery also gives a nod to a local legend on building confidence.</p><p>“Think about Bernie Mac,” he said. “For us Black comics, he set the tone for what being yourself looks like. And in Chicago we’re all comfortable in our own skin. That's what makes us great comedians.” </p><p>These days, Howery lives in Los Angeles. But when he comes home, he likes to spend time in his old neighborhood.</p><p> “I like just driving up and down Madison. I did it yesterday. I do it every time I show up to Chicago,” he said. “It's so many different parts of memories. If I drive to Western, I remember going to the laundromat on Saturdays with my mother, me and my brothers carrying our stuff. If I keep going further down, I see Providence St. Mel. My parents sacrificed to make sure I went to a better school. They didn't even have it like that.”</p><p>He also makes a few unusual stops. Lately, he’s found himself stopping by the funeral home where his family held services when his father died.</p><p>“This gonna sound crazy,” he said. “I just wanted to stop there. I know he’s not there, but I built a relationship because I was there so much. You know how weird it is for me to just be there with some other people's family?”</p><p>He continued: “I love what Chicago represents for me. I was driving up and down out west the other day and stopped to get some snowballs, and they was like, ‘Lil Rel what you doing on Central Park?’ And because they recognized me, I felt like I had to buy everybody snowballs, so I did.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-870000" name="image-870000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/101b017/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2F6e%2Ffe68ba044cbd81eb1a10d5def2fe%2Flilrel-260919-20.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cf4aec6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2F6e%2Ffe68ba044cbd81eb1a10d5def2fe%2Flilrel-260919-20.png 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bf59d2f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2F6e%2Ffe68ba044cbd81eb1a10d5def2fe%2Flilrel-260919-20.png" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Lil Rel Howery at the Chicago Public Media office at 848 E Grand Ave at Navy Pier, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. " srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bf59d2f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2F6e%2Ffe68ba044cbd81eb1a10d5def2fe%2Flilrel-260919-20.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9adb6e0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2F6e%2Ffe68ba044cbd81eb1a10d5def2fe%2Flilrel-260919-20.png 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bf59d2f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+132/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2F6e%2Ffe68ba044cbd81eb1a10d5def2fe%2Flilrel-260919-20.png" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>“I was able to be so confident coming to L.A. and going to New York because Chicago made me feel like a star already,” Howery said.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Howery has always maintained a close connection to the city, even after work took him away. When he filmed his sitcom, “Rel,” on FOX, the theme song was homegrown.</p><p>“One of my favorite songs is Crucial Conflict’s ‘In The Circle,’” he said, “because we all used to hang out in the circle, you know, on Madison and Central Park. It’s crazy, but I’m one of those lunatics. I said if I ever have a show that will be the theme song. So I had FOX call them, and pay them to remake it into a theme song.”</p><p>Looking forward to the festival, Howery said he’s eager for a chance to see the new crop of talented comedians.</p><p>“Chicago's just a great place for standup comedy,” said Howery. “And not only standup. Like legendary sketch actors also come from Chicago. Every part of comedy, the best have come from here.”</p>

<p>The Art Institute of Chicago is returning the Cubist painting “Woman with a Fan” by French artist Jean Metzinger to the Lewenstein family, the institution announced Tuesday.</p><p>The oil painting from 1913 was lost during a forced Nazi-era sale in the Netherlands. However, there were significant gaps in the painting’s historical record, said Jacques Schuhmacher, the museum’s executive director of provenance.</p><p>The work resurfaced on the Dutch art market in the 1950s, moved through galleries in Paris and New York City, and was later acquired by the Art Institute of Chicago in 1959, when Mr. and Mrs. Sigmund Kunstadter donated the work to the Chicago museum.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-2c0000" name="image-2c0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a15c769/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2102x1180+0+910/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fef%2F37%2F4c1a2a354c54b04fed0818e1518b%2Fj24267-int-press-300ppi-3000px-srgb-jpeg.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/95f15e9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2102x1180+0+910/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fef%2F37%2F4c1a2a354c54b04fed0818e1518b%2Fj24267-int-press-300ppi-3000px-srgb-jpeg.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7a765cc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2102x1180+0+910/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fef%2F37%2F4c1a2a354c54b04fed0818e1518b%2Fj24267-int-press-300ppi-3000px-srgb-jpeg.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Jean Metzinger's 1913 painting, "Woman with a Fan," was gifted to the Art Institute of Chicago by Mr. and Mrs. Sigmund Kunstadter in 1959." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7a765cc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2102x1180+0+910/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fef%2F37%2F4c1a2a354c54b04fed0818e1518b%2Fj24267-int-press-300ppi-3000px-srgb-jpeg.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a03b8ee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2102x1180+0+910/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fef%2F37%2F4c1a2a354c54b04fed0818e1518b%2Fj24267-int-press-300ppi-3000px-srgb-jpeg.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7a765cc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2102x1180+0+910/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fef%2F37%2F4c1a2a354c54b04fed0818e1518b%2Fj24267-int-press-300ppi-3000px-srgb-jpeg.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Jean Metzinger’s 1913 painting, “Woman with a Fan,” was gifted to the Art Institute of Chicago by Mr. and Mrs. Sigmund Kunstadter in 1959.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>© 2026 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>But through modern infrared imaging technology, Schuhmacher said, researchers discovered a name written in faint pencil on the back of the piece: Paul Citroen. Citroen was a Dutch art dealer in Berlin and the Netherlands who sold the work to art collector Emmanuel Lewenstein.</p><p>“This allowed us to make a connection between our painting and the Lewenstein family for the first time,” Schuhmacher said. “With the evidence written on the painting itself, we carried out additional research in collaboration with the Mondex Corporation.”</p><p>Industrywide, artistic provenance has become a key focus of museum leaders and has been the subject of complex court cases and legal disputes. In 2024, the Art Institute <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/art/2024/12/02/art-institute-chicago-provenance-team-jacques-schuhmacher-nazi-matisse-daisies-egon-schiele-gustave-courbet" target="_blank" >announced the appointment</a> of Schuhmacher as its first executive director of provenance research and has one of the largest such departments in the country. </p><p>Last week, a New York City appellate court ruled that a different World War II-era painting, a 1916 watercolor and pencil drawing by Egon Schiele titled “Russian War Prisoner,” <a class="Link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/arts/egon-schiele-chicago-museum-appellate-court-ruling.html" target="_blank" ><u>could remain at the Art Institute of Chicago</u></a> while ownership disputes are handled in civil court.</p><p>Investigators for the Manhattan district attorney’s office cited a penal law that governs the disposal of stolen property. And in 2025, a New York Supreme Court judge <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/museums/2025/04/24/art-institute-of-chicago-egon-schiele-russian-war-prisoner-nazi-stolen-art" target="_blank" ><u>determined that the Schiele had been stolen by Nazis from Fritz Grünbaum before the start of World War II</u></a>. Two years prior, authorities officially approved the seizure of the artwork from the Art Institute in 2023, but let it stay at the museum.</p><p>The Art Institute maintains that it purchased “Russian War Prisoner” legally in 1966, and in a statement said that the Metzinger and Schiele works are two very different cases.</p><p>“We are confident in our extensive research, which indicates very different facts for each of the two works,” the museum statement reads. “Evidence indicates the Metzinger painting was seized from the family and forcibly sold, while evidence related to the Schiele drawing indicates it was never seized, stayed within the family, and was ultimately sold by the family more than ten years after the war.”</p><p>In the case of “Woman with a Fan,” Lewenstein’s heirs are represented by the Toronto-based firm, which specializes in the recovery of art and cultural artifacts that were looted or stolen during the Holocaust.</p><p>“In provenance research you often triangulate different kinds of sources,” he said. “Taken together, [we] confirmed that our painting was sold as a result of Nazi persecution in 1940 in the Netherlands.”But with the new discovery, this case required a close look at archives from the Netherlands. “We found documents from Paul Citroen, which showed that he sold this painting to Emanuel Lewenstein in 1928,” Schuhmacher said.</p><p>Years later, in 1933, Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany, which marked the effective seizure of power by the Nazi Party. By 1940, World War II was in full effect and the Nazis had occupied the Netherlands, where the Lewenstein family lived.</p><p>“The Lewensteins were Jewish. They were persecuted because they were Jewish,” Schuhmacher said.</p><p>With the uncovered documents, which included an auction catalog from 1940 and a Dutch newspaper article from the same year, researchers were able to verify the exact dimensions of the Metzinger painting and match it with the one in the Art Institute’s collection. They determined then that the painting should go back to the Lewenstein family.</p><p>“The decision was made to restitute [the painting] to the Lewenstein heirs, and I think what's really important here is that in restituting a piece, it's not just about transferring ownership back to a family,” Schumacher said. “It's also about restoring the agency [to the family] to do with this painting what they think is appropriate.”</p><p>Megan Michienzi, spokesperson for the Art Institute of Chicago, confirmed that the Metzinger painting is no longer on view at the museum. The museum is working with art handlers to arrange for the work to be sent back to the living heirs of the late art collector, Michienzi said.</p><p>Michienzi said the Art Institute has “prioritized provenance research, and we are happy to return items when we learn new information that suggests that they should go back.”</p>

<p>The decades-long fight to clear Chester Weger’s name as the notorious "Starved Rock killer" isn’t ending with his death.</p><p>Weger’s family will get a chance next month to argue that the man who spent nearly six decades behind bars was wrongly convicted in one of Illinois’ most infamous murder cases.</p><p>The Illinois Prisoner Review Board has scheduled a rare Oct. 6 hearing in Chicago on the family’s request for a posthumous pardon from Gov. JB Pritzker.</p><p>The board rarely has considered posthumous clemency petitions, holding such hearings for only two other people in the past seven years.</p><p>Weger was sentenced to life in prison in 1961 for killing one of the three women whose battered bodies were found near a cave at Starved Rock State Park, a popular getaway spot for Chicagoans.</p><p>He confessed to the killings but quickly recanted — then spent the rest of his life insisting he was innocent.</p><p>Weger was paroled in 2020 for good behavior in prison after spending about 60 years behind bars, but his conviction remained on his record.</p><p>After his release, his lawyers launched a fresh effort to overturn the conviction, citing DNA evidence, new witness testimony and alternative theories about who killed Mildred Linquist, 50, Lillian Oetting, 50, and Frances Murphy, 47. They had gone to Starved Rock to hike and bird watch in March 1960.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-5f0000" name="image-5f0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ca108a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2135x1198+19+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc7%2Fbe%2F2bc1c86277e55b6f4563e54549c6%2Fscreen-shot-2023-05-24-at-10-47-41-am.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/34568ca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2135x1198+19+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc7%2Fbe%2F2bc1c86277e55b6f4563e54549c6%2Fscreen-shot-2023-05-24-at-10-47-41-am.png 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cfe9e32/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2135x1198+19+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc7%2Fbe%2F2bc1c86277e55b6f4563e54549c6%2Fscreen-shot-2023-05-24-at-10-47-41-am.png" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Chester Weger, then 80, in 2020 as he left Pinckneyville Correctional Center in southern Illinois." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cfe9e32/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2135x1198+19+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc7%2Fbe%2F2bc1c86277e55b6f4563e54549c6%2Fscreen-shot-2023-05-24-at-10-47-41-am.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6ada6a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2135x1198+19+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc7%2Fbe%2F2bc1c86277e55b6f4563e54549c6%2Fscreen-shot-2023-05-24-at-10-47-41-am.png 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cfe9e32/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2135x1198+19+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc7%2Fbe%2F2bc1c86277e55b6f4563e54549c6%2Fscreen-shot-2023-05-24-at-10-47-41-am.png" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Chester Weger, then 80, as he left Pinckneyville Correctional Center in southern Illinois in 2020.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Sun-Times file</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Weger's lawyers have theorized that a relative of one victim hired mobsters to kill her and that the other two women were slain because they witnessed the crime. </p><p>The lawyers also pointed to a hair found on the finger of one of the victims. Tests found the hair didn't match the women or Weger and most likely came from another local man.</p><p>But a LaSalle County judge rejected Weger’s post-conviction petition last year. <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/06/24/starved-rock-killer-chester-weger-1961-conviction-obituary" target="_blank" >Weger died less than a week later.</a> He was 86.</p><p>His family filed a petition in June asking Pritzker to grant executive clemency — a process separate from parole and one that could posthumously wipe away Weger's conviction.</p><p>The Prisoner Review Board will weigh the testimony given Oct. 6 before sending the governor a confidential recommendation. Pritzker will make the final call.</p><p>The board typically takes about two months to forward its recommendation. Another high-profile clemency request — from former Gangster Disciples boss Larry Hoover — remains pending after an <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/04/07/gangster-disciples-larry-hoover-gangs-trump-eileen-burke" target="_blank" >April hearing</a>.</p><p>“We didn't get a fair shot at the evidentiary hearing,” says Weger attorney Andrew Hale, who spent a decade reinvestigating the Starved Rock murders, hosted a podcast about the killings and appeared in an HBO documentary about them.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-150000" name="image-150000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a2668b1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+62/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F04%2F48%2F9dfd96f5bbb99fc6101f1ac825f7%2Fap-img-andyhale-01-1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d764083/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+62/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F04%2F48%2F9dfd96f5bbb99fc6101f1ac825f7%2Fap-img-andyhale-01-1.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cad6040/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+62/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F04%2F48%2F9dfd96f5bbb99fc6101f1ac825f7%2Fap-img-andyhale-01-1.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Attorney Andrew Hale." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cad6040/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+62/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F04%2F48%2F9dfd96f5bbb99fc6101f1ac825f7%2Fap-img-andyhale-01-1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/15b856a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+62/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F04%2F48%2F9dfd96f5bbb99fc6101f1ac825f7%2Fap-img-andyhale-01-1.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cad6040/2147483647/strip/true/crop/858x482+0+62/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F04%2F48%2F9dfd96f5bbb99fc6101f1ac825f7%2Fap-img-andyhale-01-1.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Andrew Hale, the lawyer who filed the posthumous executive clemency petition on behalf of Chester Weger.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Provided</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Hale says Weger's sister and her two daughters plan to attend the October hearing. He hopes the board members will closely review the family's nearly 100-page clemency petition.</p><p>"I am hopeful," he says. "I feel like this board and the governor's office, if they take a fresh look at this, I should win."</p><p>He acknowledges that wiping away Weger's conviction could potentially open the door to a lawsuit, but says that's not the family's focus.</p><p>Prosecutors and survivors of the women have opposed the efforts to parole Weger and overturn his conviction.</p><p>One of the few recent cases in Illinois in which a posthumous clemency hearing was held involved Grover Thompson, who was convicted of attempted murder after a trial in 1981.</p><p>Thompson was convicted of stabbing a 71-year-old woman during an attempted sexual assault in her Mount Vernon apartment. He died in prison in 1996.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-5c0000" name="image-5c0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3983fee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/476x267+0+102/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fed%2F3c%2Fe253d16d4dd3911f79d753df7ad9%2Ftimothy-krajcir.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e824971/2147483647/strip/true/crop/476x267+0+102/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fed%2F3c%2Fe253d16d4dd3911f79d753df7ad9%2Ftimothy-krajcir.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/688e0f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/476x267+0+102/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fed%2F3c%2Fe253d16d4dd3911f79d753df7ad9%2Ftimothy-krajcir.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Timothy Krajcir " srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/688e0f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/476x267+0+102/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fed%2F3c%2Fe253d16d4dd3911f79d753df7ad9%2Ftimothy-krajcir.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1dc037e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/476x267+0+102/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fed%2F3c%2Fe253d16d4dd3911f79d753df7ad9%2Ftimothy-krajcir.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/688e0f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/476x267+0+102/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fed%2F3c%2Fe253d16d4dd3911f79d753df7ad9%2Ftimothy-krajcir.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Timothy Krajcir</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Illinois Department of Corrections</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Years later, serial killer Timothy Krajcir confessed to an attempted sexual assault matching the circumstances of the crime for which Thompson had been convicted.</p><p>Krajcir admitted to killing nine women and is serving an 80-year Illinois prison sentence.</p><p>Thompson’s nephew, the Illinois Innocence Project and police officer Paul Echols — who obtained Krajcir’s confession — pushed to clear Thompson’s name. </p><p>Then-Gov. Bruce Rauner granted Thompson a pardon in 2019.</p><p>The other recent case involves Joe James, a Black man executed in 1908 for killing a white man, Clergy Ballard, in Springfield.</p><p>Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions and other advocates have argued James did not receive a fair trial. </p><p>An all-white jury convicted him just weeks after a white mob lynched two Black men and torched hundreds of Black homes and businesses during the Springfield race riot.</p><p>The Prisoner Review Board has sent Pritzker a confidential recommendation in James' case, and the governor has yet to act on it, according to a board spokesperson.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/06/18/starved-rock-killer-chester-weger-conviction-1960-murders-three-women" >‘Starved Rock killer’ loses bid to overturn 1961 conviction</a> </li> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/06/24/starved-rock-killer-chester-weger-1961-conviction-obituary" >Starved Rock killer is dead, a week after losing bid to overturn 1961 conviction</a> </li> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/8/2/23288581/starved-rock-killer-chester-weger-dna-andrew-hale" >Convicted Starved Rock killer’s lawyer: DNA test casts doubt on Chester Weger’s conviction</a> </li> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/10/14/23393096/starved-rock-killer-chester-weger-chicago-outfit-andy-james-glasgow-wrongful-conviction" >Convicted ‘Starved Rock killer’s’ lawyer: Family member might have arranged for Chicago Outfit to kill 3 women in 1960</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p></p>

<p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024-democratic-national-convention/2024/08/20/pritzker-jb-donald-trump-kamala-harris-democratic-national-convention-dnc-speech" >Gov. JB Pritzker delivered</a> one of the most high-profile political speeches of his life two years ago at Chicago’s Democratic National Convention.</p><p>But now, two years later, Pritzker, 61, said he’s astounded to see photographs and video of that moment.</p><p>Pritzker is for the first time revealing publicly that he’s lost 80 pounds with the help of a GLP-1 weight-loss medication, with plans to lose more. The governor laid bare his previously undisclosed medical history in an hourlong interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, saying the “food noise” is gone with daily exercise and the injections fueling weight loss he didn’t think was possible.</p><p>“I honestly didn’t think about the fact that just two years ago at the Democratic convention, that I was 80 pounds heavier. I didn’t notice that except that now I’ve seen pictures or video of myself and now that I’ve had some success, I look in the mirror and I think about the videos and I think, 'Wow, that’s quite a difference,’ ” Pritzker said. “And I guess other people see it, which is nice.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-600000" name="image-600000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bd63a2d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5537x3108+0+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F17%2Ff9%2Fa99686e34451aeb792d9ea7eaaef%2F2167657011.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c68beee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5537x3108+0+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F17%2Ff9%2Fa99686e34451aeb792d9ea7eaaef%2F2167657011.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fc4c28a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5537x3108+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F17%2Ff9%2Fa99686e34451aeb792d9ea7eaaef%2F2167657011.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center Aug. 20, 2024 in Chicago." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fc4c28a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5537x3108+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F17%2Ff9%2Fa99686e34451aeb792d9ea7eaaef%2F2167657011.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8f6dc93/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5537x3108+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F17%2Ff9%2Fa99686e34451aeb792d9ea7eaaef%2F2167657011.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fc4c28a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5537x3108+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F17%2Ff9%2Fa99686e34451aeb792d9ea7eaaef%2F2167657011.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center Aug. 20, 2024, in Chicago.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Joe Raedle/Getty Images</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>For people who think Pritzker, a billionaire, has little to complain about — he has always battled with his weight.</p><p>“There are people who have it very easy their whole lives, and they’ve never struggled at all,” Pritzker said. “And I’m just not that person.”</p><p>Pritzker blames that in part on “bad genes.” He’s also been the target of weight-related attacks and AI-generated memes shared by President Donald Trump — including fake images of him devouring pizza and a burger. Trump also has repeatedly called him a “fat slob,” a reference the governor certainly remembers.</p><p>“I think that it's funny to me now that the president still calls me a fat slob ... and I wasn’t before, by the way. But I’ve been overweight. Oh, by the way, he’s overweight,” Pritzker said. “But I don’t really talk about that publicly … and it’s because I think it’s more like the content of your character that matters more, and I’ve always believed that. And that’s why I haven’t listened to people who say nasty things about me being overweight.”</p><p>He said he’s been on “every diet you could imagine” with no long-term success. But it wasn’t until a doctor diagnosed him with prediabetes, and later Type 2 diabetes, at age 58, that he began taking insulin — and ultimately a GLP-1 medication to help regulate his blood sugar.</p><p>Pritzker said it's a “miracle” he didn’t have health problems before then.</p><p>“I’ve been testing myself regularly like people do when they go to the doctor. Maybe I would do it once a year and never have any problems. It’s almost a miracle, really,” Pritzker said. “If you think about the number of years being overweight — no glucose problem, no other problems.”</p><p>It was that diabetes diagnosis and insulin prescription that gave him a lifesaving wake-up call — and got him thinking about his own longevity.</p><p>Pritzker said the medication — combined with exercise and diet — has been so effective that he stopped taking insulin nine months ago, and his blood sugar levels have gone back to normal.</p><p>The Democratic governor’s weight loss has been gradual — but noticeable. In the early days, his suits sometimes looked like they were hanging off his body. He has since upgraded his smaller sized wardrobe.</p><p>He's also frequently spotted walking several miles along Lake Michigan in the mornings — and he’s taken hundreds of questions about his weight, each time crediting his weight loss to his new exercise routine and declining to answer whether it was also fueled by a GLP-1 medication. He repeatedly called it a “private health matter.”</p><p>But more than two years into his new weight loss journey, the governor said he wants to talk about it openly, largely in part because he knows millions of Americans are suffering from obesity-related health conditions. He said he didn’t talk about it sooner because he wanted to make sure the weight loss stuck. The disclosure also comes just months before Democrats are expected to announce their intentions to run for president.</p><p>For now, the governor won’t take the<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/07/09/pritzker-for-president-handicapping-the-illinois-governors-political-future" > presidential bait </a>and said he’s focusing on winning his third term for governor in November.</p><p>“People want to tag that, but I mean really, really honestly … I might not be on a GLP-1 had I not walked into that doctor’s office or gotten that call, and so that really is what put me on the GLP-1,” Pritzker said. “And the fact that I’m losing weight, frankly, I would like to be around to have my children have children. So I can have grandchildren.”</p><h3>The role his family health plays</h3><p>Pritzker’s childhood included the deaths of both parents — his mother <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/5/13/23069709/gov-jb-pritzker-mother-sue-abortion-rights-family-legacy-national-leadership-roe-v-wade-alcoholism" target="_blank" >Sue was killed in a car accident when he was 17,</a> and his father Donald died of a heart attack at 39, when Pritzker was just 7.</p><p>And that number — 39 — is something the Pritzker family, including the governor’s sister Penny and brother Tony, thinks about — especially since they’ve made it well past that young age.</p><p>Pritzker said his father had high cholesterol, high triglycerides and high blood pressure. He said the family was always aware there was a genetic possibility that one of them could suffer from alcoholism, as his mother did, though none did.</p><p>He said he paid attention “to not drinking too much" but wasn’t overly concerned about his heart health because his blood work results were consistently normal.</p><p>The governor was extremely candid about his relationship with food — describing himself as the guy who wants the whole cake, not just a piece.</p><p>“It’s still a struggle. It used to be that somebody would say, ‘We’ve got cake,’ or something, and, to me and I think to other people, but for me anyway, if you put a cake down and say, ‘Would you like some cake?’ Yeah, I want the whole cake or a box of cookies,” Pritzker said. “That was just how I would feel about it, and I don’t feel that way anymore. I still like — who doesn’t love cake and cookies? I love them, but I don’t feel like I need to have more than one, and most often I'm thinking, ‘I don't want to do that because I want to lose weight tomorrow.’ ”</p><p>The food noise is gone, he said, crediting the medication.</p><p>“I really don’t walk around thinking when is the next time I need to or that I get to eat,” Pritzker said. “Now, it’s much more normal.”</p><h3>State insurance covers Pritzker’s GLP-1 use </h3><p>Pritzker, who started his injections in the spring of 2024, said his weight-loss medication is covered by the state’s insurance plan — but it’s attributable to his previous diabetes diagnosis, not specifically for weight loss.</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2024/04/30/weight-loss-drug-coverage-illinois-state-workers-taxpayers-price-tag" >Illinois expanded coverage</a> for eligible state workers for medications like Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic, in July 2023 under the state’s group health insurance program. The state’s expanded coverage cost the state $147 million in fiscal year 2025.</p><p>GLP-1 coverage previously was available for state workers who had been diagnosed with diabetes — but the expansion covered the drug for weight loss, with more drugs available.</p><p>“I put that policy in place before I ever thought I’d be on a GLP-1. Just want to be clear. I’m not trying to, I wasn’t trying to do something for myself here,” Pritzker said. “It really was a policy decision.”</p><p>Pritzker has defended the inclusion of the weight-loss injections into the state’s insurance plan, calling it “good for the taxpayers” for its ability to get diabetics off insulin.</p><p>“We brought down the cost of insulin for people long before we ever got to GLP-1s, but this actually allows people to — well I’m living proof that you can come off of them,” Pritzker said.</p><p>Despite praise for the drug’s effectiveness, the governor said he can’t rule out future cuts to coverage of the medication for weight loss due to budgetary constraints, saying, “of course virtually everything these days is on the table.”</p><p>“There are lots of things I don't like having to do these days that we shouldn’t have to do, but they’re being forced upon us,” Pritzker said. ”And so, is that on some very long list of things we would have to consider? Possibly. But I really haven’t contemplated it until you just asked the question.”</p><p>The governor said expansion of the weight loss drugs to Medicaid recipients, however, is not currently feasible.</p><p>“We have so many other things that we need to do with dollars in the Medicaid system that I can’t imagine that this would be immediately something we could do, given all the circumstances of the federal government,” Pritzker said, “But I would love to do that. I mean, it’s not like people who are lower income don’t have exactly the same problems. It’s not like the Medicaid system couldn’t benefit.”</p><h3>‘I don’t think it’s cheating’ </h3><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-860000" name="image-860000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dceefe3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6196x3477+0+327/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F44%2F39%2Fb9dc877c4969a5419d8241556507%2Fpritzkerinterview-260921-3.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/576c982/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6196x3477+0+327/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F44%2F39%2Fb9dc877c4969a5419d8241556507%2Fpritzkerinterview-260921-3.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9d57c73/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6196x3477+0+327/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F44%2F39%2Fb9dc877c4969a5419d8241556507%2Fpritzkerinterview-260921-3.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Two female joggers talk to Gov. JB Pritzker on the Lakefront Trail at 31st Street Beach on Sept. 16, 2026. " srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9d57c73/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6196x3477+0+327/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F44%2F39%2Fb9dc877c4969a5419d8241556507%2Fpritzkerinterview-260921-3.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ce32392/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6196x3477+0+327/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F44%2F39%2Fb9dc877c4969a5419d8241556507%2Fpritzkerinterview-260921-3.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9d57c73/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6196x3477+0+327/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F44%2F39%2Fb9dc877c4969a5419d8241556507%2Fpritzkerinterview-260921-3.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Joggers chat with Gov. JB Pritzker last week at 31st Street Beach.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>On a drizzly September morning, Pritzker took a morning walk near 31st Street Beach. He was immediately spotted and chatted with two runners and later with two bird watchers from the the Nature Conservancy and Windy City Bird Lab.</p><p>Beyond the Lake Michigan walks, Pritzker said he’s using a recumbent bike in his office on rainy days, and also a treadmill, elliptical machines and whatever is available at hotel gyms. He hikes with his son and plays tennis with his daughter.</p><p>Pritzker defended his use of a GLP-1 drug and said it isn’t a shortcut or “like steroids for sports figures.” He is crediting it as the biggest difference maker in his lifelong quest to lose weight.</p><p>“I feel so much better than I have in a long time. I’m able to do things I haven’t done in a long time. So if there is this new opportunity to get healthy and in my case, it was driven by a true medical condition diagnosis … I don’t think it’s cheating,” Pritzker said. “I think it’s what I need to succeed.”</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2024/04/30/weight-loss-drug-coverage-illinois-state-workers-taxpayers-price-tag" >Weight-loss drug coverage for Illinois state workers could cost hundreds of millions of dollars</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p></p>

<p>Inside Melissa Dixon’s home in Gary, the lights are back on. Her refrigerator is working. And she’s playing music as she does yard work. The generator that she had on her front steps is gone now. </p><p>It's more than a month since Dixon and hundreds of thousands of others in Gary and across northwest Indiana were left without power, some for at least <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/graphics/weather/powerless/12-nights-without-power-in-Gary-Indiana/" target="_blank" ><u>two weeks</u></a>, and she's still feeling anxious.</p><p>It wasn’t until recently that she finally did a big grocery haul. Until then, she'd been buying only enough food for a day or two.</p><p>“I don’t want to put food in here or buy food for a couple days,” Dixon says, “because I don’t want to lose my food again.”</p><p>She was among nearly 375,000 of the Northern Indiana Public Service Company's customers — of the 500,000 it serves — who were without electricity for days after an Aug. 11 derecho. </p><p>Gusts of 99 miles an hour were recorded at the Gary/Chicago International Airport. But Gary was one of the last communities to have power fully restored, U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Indiana, whose congressional district includes Gary, said in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asking for a federal <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/08/31/indianas-governor-demands-probe-of-power-utility-during-tour-of-storm-ravaged-gary" target="_blank" ><u>investigation</u></a> of NIPSCO’s response.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-0e0000" name="image-0e0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5a65631/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7420x4164+0+392/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F95%2Fd7%2Fb047358b4eba97a95e2c3c7f235d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-08.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/18508ea/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7420x4164+0+392/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F95%2Fd7%2Fb047358b4eba97a95e2c3c7f235d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-08.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/57e2daf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7420x4164+0+392/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F95%2Fd7%2Fb047358b4eba97a95e2c3c7f235d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-08.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Melissa Dixon shows off wood she has started stockpiling outside her home in Gary. Dixon is worried about another natural disaster after she and her family faced about two weeks with no lights during a historic power outage." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/57e2daf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7420x4164+0+392/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F95%2Fd7%2Fb047358b4eba97a95e2c3c7f235d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-08.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7436e81/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7420x4164+0+392/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F95%2Fd7%2Fb047358b4eba97a95e2c3c7f235d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-08.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/57e2daf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7420x4164+0+392/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F95%2Fd7%2Fb047358b4eba97a95e2c3c7f235d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-08.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Melissa Dixon has started stockpiling wood outside her home in Gary in case of another natural disaster after she and her family faced about two weeks with no lights during a historic power outage.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin / Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The calls for help haven’t stopped at Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church. The church organized food giveaways and opened to neighbors who were without power. Now, the Rev. Eric Boone, Tree of Life's senior pastor, says families in Gary are staying afloat, but things aren’t completely back to normal. Some people regained power only to find out their refrigerators no longer worked, he says.</p><p>“Even though lights came on, people’s bank accounts didn’t bounce back,” Boone says. “People’s food, refrigerators and freezers didn’t bounce back. Some people got mold. Some people’s houses are wrecked. Some people lost their cars.”</p><h3>Health worries</h3><p>Outside Dixon’s home, a large tree branch that had fallen on a neighbor’s property has been cut into smaller pieces. That's for firewood she plans to keep in case another storm knocks out the power again.</p><p>Inside, Dixon has stocked her refrigerator with staples like milk and eggs. She gets waffles to satisfy her four daughters, who range in age from 12 to 22 years old. Her younger daughters are all back in school. The house is mostly quiet with them in class. But steps from the kitchen, Dixon says she's worried about dark spots along the walls in her basement. Maybe those are mold. She keeps two dehumidifiers running in the basement, where she typically sleeps.</p><p>“We’re sick because of the mold,” Dixon says. “I started feeling really weird, like my vision … a lot of pain in my face and my neck area and going down my arm and my shoulder.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-3b0000" name="image-3b0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/96f1a72/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4739x2660+0+251/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F26%2Fe1%2F38b175a74cf98dded411f8ac09d8%2Fgaryupdate-260920-03.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6425ae7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4739x2660+0+251/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F26%2Fe1%2F38b175a74cf98dded411f8ac09d8%2Fgaryupdate-260920-03.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/91c8c67/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4739x2660+0+251/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F26%2Fe1%2F38b175a74cf98dded411f8ac09d8%2Fgaryupdate-260920-03.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Melissa Dixon points to spots she worries are mold." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/91c8c67/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4739x2660+0+251/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F26%2Fe1%2F38b175a74cf98dded411f8ac09d8%2Fgaryupdate-260920-03.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dc7c3be/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4739x2660+0+251/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F26%2Fe1%2F38b175a74cf98dded411f8ac09d8%2Fgaryupdate-260920-03.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/91c8c67/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4739x2660+0+251/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F26%2Fe1%2F38b175a74cf98dded411f8ac09d8%2Fgaryupdate-260920-03.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Melissa Dixon points to spots she worries are mold.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin / Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Dixon says she started to feel sick soon after the power was restored. She was taking medicine to try to treat inflammation that has led to facial nerve problems.</p><p>She'd like to move her family out of her home temporarily — until she’s able to get it checked for mold and any necessary remediation. </p><p>But first she needs some support. She applied for disaster relief through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but her application is still pending.</p><p>The only financial help she has gotten is a $150 voucher from her township. Calling hotline after hotline has been like trying to win a contest rather than just get relief after a natural disaster.</p><p>“It’s like calling a radio station,” she says. “‘Ooh, am I going to win these tickets?’”</p><h3></h3><p>Dixon is among more than 33,000 people in Lake County, Indiana, who have applied for relief money from FEMA. The federal agency says $48.19 million has been allocated for Lake County but didn't say how many applications have been approved.</p><p>Gary officials distributed an additional $500,000 in disaster relief to about 1,200 households. In a city of about 67,000 people, that’s also only a fraction of the possible need.</p><p>Shanequa Cauley is among those in Gary who have struck out on getting help. She lost power for about nine days. It took much longer for her employer's power to be restored. That meant she lost out on about three weeks of pay.</p><p>Cauley says she borrowed from a friend to pay her rent on time. Some of the meals she and her 7-year-old daughter ate during the first weeks after the storm came from the City Life Center, which provided free hot meals to families in Gary. The center later gave out vouchers for $300 to use at a grocery store.</p><p>But those meals have since ended. Cauley is hopeful she can get her finances in better shape before the end of the month.</p><p>“I’m praying by next week everything should be good,” says Cauley, who <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2026/08/25/nipsco-filed-application-for-customer-rate-increases-amid-storm-that-ravaged-northwest-indiana" target="_blank" ><u>owes NIPSCO</u></a> about $89. “The first thing I’m going to do is get my NIPSCO caught up.”</p><h3>‘Refuse to be knocked out’</h3><p>Britney Rice, community adaptation program manager for the American Red Cross in Indiana, says caseworkers have been trying to connect Gary residents with the resources they need. Twenty-eight people are still living in temporary shelter, according to Rice, who says the Red Cross also assisted others in getting vouchers from a state program to stay at a hotel for 30 days.</p><p>Some people haven’t been able to replace the food they lost during the outage. For others, the Red Cross is helping get them into a better situation than they were before the storms, which could include connecting them to other resources to help them find a better job, Rice says.</p><p>“When people have been impacted by disasters and the trauma that goes along with it, and they kind of kick into survival mode, sometimes all they can see is what’s in front of them,” Rice says. “And they make decisions that, if they could have seen something much bigger, then they would have made bigger decisions.”</p><p>Boone says his Tree of Life congregation has been scrambling to get relief information out. There still are people trying to figure out how to get by, he says. But Boone says he’s been heartened by how people in Gary have come together.</p><p>“We are strong," Boone says. "We are some that don’t give in or give up easily. We might get knocked down, but we refuse to be knocked out.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-d40000" name="image-d40000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3ebe81d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6313x3543+0+334/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F4a%2Fc73f88564d73b521ba913da2056d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-07.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c138c50/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6313x3543+0+334/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F4a%2Fc73f88564d73b521ba913da2056d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-07.JPG 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9473b45/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6313x3543+0+334/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F4a%2Fc73f88564d73b521ba913da2056d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-07.JPG" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Melissa Dixon still got a NIPSCO bill for $374. She wants the utility company to take responsibility for what she and her neighbors have been through." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9473b45/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6313x3543+0+334/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F4a%2Fc73f88564d73b521ba913da2056d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-07.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/82e53dc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6313x3543+0+334/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F4a%2Fc73f88564d73b521ba913da2056d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-07.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9473b45/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6313x3543+0+334/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F4a%2Fc73f88564d73b521ba913da2056d%2Fgaryupdate-260920-07.JPG" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Melissa Dixon still got a NIPSCO bill for $374. She wants the utility company to take responsibility for what she and her neighbors have been through.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin / Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Dixon says she and her neighbors need more help, and she wants NIPSCO to take responsibility for what they’ve been through. Despite the disaster, she still got a NIPSCO bill for $374.</p><p>“It’s too much going on behind this power outage that we had to go through for two weeks,” she says. “It’s too much behind it. And the little that I’m going through, I could just imagine what other people are going through. I thought my home was safe. And now look: Me and my kids are truly sick.”</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/graphics/weather/powerless/12-nights-without-power-in-Gary-Indiana/" target="_blank" >12 nights without power in Gary</a> </li> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/photography/2026/08/29/how-we-photographed-historic-power-outage-gary" >How we photographed a historic power outage in Gary</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p></p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-bb0000" name="module-bb0000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h4><b>Resources for Gary residents: </b></h4><ul id="rte-8e577230-b2e0-11f1-b4e7-c913838dcc8d"><li>FEMA is accepting applications until Oct. 25, which can be filled out online at <a class="Link" href="https://www.disasterassistance.gov/" target="_blank" >www.disasterassistance.gov</a>. The federal agency provides funds to cover emergency needs, like medical equipment and food, and to make home repairs.</li><li>The Indiana State Disaster Relief Fund can help residents replace or repair essential furniture, appliances or pay for needed inspections. Residents can <a class="Link" href=" https://app.brightharbor.com/signup/indiana-sdrf-june-august-2026" target="_blank" >apply online</a>.</li><li>To get help in person applying for FEMA and the state’s relief fund, residents can visit United Steelworkers Local 1014, located at 1301 Texas St., Gary, Indiana, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25th. Residents can also stop by from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. The site will be part of the state’s “One-Stop Shops” to get state and federal disaster relief assistance.</li><li>To talk to a caseworker at the Red Cross, residents can call 1 (800) 733-2767.</li></ul><br><h4><b>How to help Gary residents: </b></h4><ul id="rte-8e577231-b2e0-11f1-b4e7-c913838dcc8d"><li>Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church welcomes volunteers who want to help with relief efforts or their food pantry. They are located at 2323 W. 11th Ave., Gary, Indiana.</li><li>People interested in becoming a disaster volunteer with the Red Cross can visit, <a class="Link" href="https://redcross.org/volunteers" target="_blank" >redcross.org/volunteers</a>.</li><li>Hope Alliance of Northwest Indiana continues to distribute cleaning supplies and pays for residents to do loads of laundry. Volunteers interested in helping can call, (219) 316-0099.</li></ul></div> </div><p></p>

<p>If you name any gospel music star of the mid-20th century, Gregory Donald Gay probably has a story about them.</p><p>His family was visited by singer Clara Ward, who would pull her 1957 Chrysler limousine into the driveway of their Woodlawn home.</p><p>As a starstruck teenager, he sang before the “father of gospel music,” Thomas A. Dorsey.</p><p>At 5 years old, he witnessed icon Mahalia Jackson having a fit<b> </b>backstage at Carnegie Hall after Ward’s group – particularly Marion Williams<b> –</b> brought the house down.</p><p>“She didn't want anybody to outsing her,” said Gay, now 81 and the longtime pastor of the Prayer Center Church of God in Christ in Woodlawn.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-a30000" name="image-a30000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/575967e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4b%2Fa4%2Fa0993c5b4a81bcc82dcea973f400%2Fgospelbook-260907-009.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/658a32e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4b%2Fa4%2Fa0993c5b4a81bcc82dcea973f400%2Fgospelbook-260907-009.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6c7503b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4b%2Fa4%2Fa0993c5b4a81bcc82dcea973f400%2Fgospelbook-260907-009.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Pastor Gregory Donald Gay smiles for a portrait at the Prayer Center Church of God in Christ in Woodlawn." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6c7503b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4b%2Fa4%2Fa0993c5b4a81bcc82dcea973f400%2Fgospelbook-260907-009.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1e60f5e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4b%2Fa4%2Fa0993c5b4a81bcc82dcea973f400%2Fgospelbook-260907-009.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6c7503b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4b%2Fa4%2Fa0993c5b4a81bcc82dcea973f400%2Fgospelbook-260907-009.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Gregory Donald Gay, 81, is the longtime pastor of the Prayer Center Church of God in Christ in Woodlawn. He co-wrote a new book, “Can I Get a Witness! Faith, Family and Chicago Gospel Music,” about his sisters’ influential singing group. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>As the younger brother of the Gay Sisters gospel group, he had a front row seat for the action<b> </b>during gospel’s golden age. Now, he is sharing his tales in a recently released book, “Can I Get a Witness! Faith, Family and Chicago Gospel Music” (The University of Chicago Press). The text was co-written with Steven B. Dolins, 69-year-old founder and president of The Sirens Records music label in Highland Park.</p><p>Gay said his sisters would have been forgotten without Dolins.</p><p>“I'm grateful for him opening up a window and letting the general public look in,” Gay said. “They were great, talented people, but I don't think they got a fair break.”</p><p>Gay’s late siblings — Evelyn, Geraldine and Mildred — performed, recorded or rubbed elbows with Ward, Jackson, Sam Cooke, the Staple Singers, James Cleveland, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Rollins. They released music on the legendary Savoy, Decca and Chess labels; toured the country and helped bring gospel to a televised audience. Their 1951 hit record, “God Will Take Care of You,” was later covered by Aretha Franklin.</p><p>But their accomplishments have been overlooked, and their records are difficult to find beyond streaming sites or YouTube.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-fc0000" name="image-fc0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/439cef1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff8%2F189e82ad4e9b8407d1b22f9c0f7d%2Fgospelbook-260907-018.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/012bc3b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff8%2F189e82ad4e9b8407d1b22f9c0f7d%2Fgospelbook-260907-018.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6149c15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff8%2F189e82ad4e9b8407d1b22f9c0f7d%2Fgospelbook-260907-018.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Copies of Steven B. Dolins and Gregory Donald Gay’s new book, “Can I Get a Witness! Faith, Family and Chicago Gospel Music,” lie on a table at Prayer Center Church of God In Christ in Woodlawn on the South Side." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6149c15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff8%2F189e82ad4e9b8407d1b22f9c0f7d%2Fgospelbook-260907-018.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6d439e2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff8%2F189e82ad4e9b8407d1b22f9c0f7d%2Fgospelbook-260907-018.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6149c15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Ff8%2F189e82ad4e9b8407d1b22f9c0f7d%2Fgospelbook-260907-018.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Copies of Steven B. Dolins and Gregory Donald Gay’s new book, “Can I Get a Witness! Faith, Family and Chicago Gospel Music,” lie on a table at Prayer Center Church of God In Christ in Woodlawn on the South Side.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The sisters faced both racism and sexism in the music industry. At times, they were not paid or properly credited for their work. Their career was also impacted by personal problems. “Can I Get a Witness!” details their setbacks and triumphs, while recounting music history in Chicago, where scholars say modern gospel music was born.</p><p>Dolins said he was inspired to write the book after recording CDs featuring both Geraldine Gay, who died in 2010, and Gregory Donald Gay, who would regale him with stories. Week after week, Dolins documented Gay’s accounts over lunch – bagels and lox from Once Upon a Bagel in Highland Park – at the pastor’s church.</p><p>“These stories became hallowed ground for me,” said Dolins, also a computer scientist and professor at Bradley University. “It just brought to life his sisters and his mom.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-ca0000" name="image-ca0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8e8b350/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7845x4403+0+415/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F13%2Fc34cac094055bd4b8654085176f3%2Fgospelbook-260907-004.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a5d4e11/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7845x4403+0+415/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F13%2Fc34cac094055bd4b8654085176f3%2Fgospelbook-260907-004.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d05c966/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7845x4403+0+415/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F13%2Fc34cac094055bd4b8654085176f3%2Fgospelbook-260907-004.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Steven B. Dolins sits inside the Prayer Center Church of God in Christ in Woodlawn." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d05c966/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7845x4403+0+415/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F13%2Fc34cac094055bd4b8654085176f3%2Fgospelbook-260907-004.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/79d96ac/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7845x4403+0+415/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F13%2Fc34cac094055bd4b8654085176f3%2Fgospelbook-260907-004.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d05c966/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7845x4403+0+415/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbc%2F13%2Fc34cac094055bd4b8654085176f3%2Fgospelbook-260907-004.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Steven B. Dolins is founder and president of The Sirens Records music label and co-author of “Can I Get a Witness! Faith, Family and Chicago Gospel Music.” </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>A prominent figure in “Can I Get a Witness!,” matriarch Fannie Gay was known by many gospel, pop and jazz artists at the time. They often came to her house for a home-cooked meal and prayer. Saxophonist Sonny Rollins, who wrote the book’s foreword before his death this year, even lived with the Gay family following his stint at a drug rehabilitation facility. (Fannie Gay is memorialized with an honorary street sign in front of her son’s church at East 67th Street and South Rhodes Avenue.)</p><p>Fannie Gay also supported the musical talents of her daughters, paying for their music lessons and tagging along on their gigs.<b> </b>After forming in the 1940s, the Gay sisters quickly built a reputation in Chicago and made key connections in the New York scene.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-540000" name="image-540000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e2e3aef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F0b%2F14119e7440939c980af5cd61caee%2Fgospelbook-260907-029.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/55625f4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F0b%2F14119e7440939c980af5cd61caee%2Fgospelbook-260907-029.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dfdd9bf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F0b%2F14119e7440939c980af5cd61caee%2Fgospelbook-260907-029.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The Fannie Gay honorary street sign is pictured at East 67th Street and South Rhodes Avenue." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dfdd9bf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F0b%2F14119e7440939c980af5cd61caee%2Fgospelbook-260907-029.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/eec3b34/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F0b%2F14119e7440939c980af5cd61caee%2Fgospelbook-260907-029.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dfdd9bf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F0b%2F14119e7440939c980af5cd61caee%2Fgospelbook-260907-029.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Fannie Gay is memorialized with an honorary street sign in front of the Prayer Center Church of God in Christ at East 67th Street and South Rhodes Avenue.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Talented piano players, Evelyn and Geraldine helped usher in a new era of gospel music. Now, the focus was on piano-driven tunes rather than a cappella spirituals by vocal groups. Evelyn was one of Mahalia Jackson’s first accompanists, and they both mentored gospel star James Cleveland.</p><p>“Evelyn’s style was bluesier,” Gregory Donald Gay said. “She was a songwriter. If she could hear you talk, she knew what key you sang in.<b>”</b></p><p>Geraldine, an aficionado of pianist Erroll Garner, leaned more toward jazz, Gay said.</p><p>“And then there was my middle sister, Mildred, who was a great singer,” he said. “I really think that Mildred could’ve sang with the Metropolitan Opera because she had a tremendous range.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-f00000" name="image-f00000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0918d4d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1084x608+0+343/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2f%2F22%2F8857ef9847ad97d2a76266714037%2Fchi-dolins-fig05002.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a9f9b62/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1084x608+0+343/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2f%2F22%2F8857ef9847ad97d2a76266714037%2Fchi-dolins-fig05002.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/16c32f8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1084x608+0+343/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2f%2F22%2F8857ef9847ad97d2a76266714037%2Fchi-dolins-fig05002.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The Gay Sisters pose in a publicity photograph from 1951." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/16c32f8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1084x608+0+343/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2f%2F22%2F8857ef9847ad97d2a76266714037%2Fchi-dolins-fig05002.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/18e8758/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1084x608+0+343/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2f%2F22%2F8857ef9847ad97d2a76266714037%2Fchi-dolins-fig05002.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/16c32f8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1084x608+0+343/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F2f%2F22%2F8857ef9847ad97d2a76266714037%2Fchi-dolins-fig05002.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Gay Sisters (left to right, Mildred, Geraldine and Evelyn) in a publicity photograph from 1951.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Gay family collection</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The rest of the family was also musically inclined. Gay’s older brother, Robert, was a trumpeter who played with Dizzy Gillespie, and Gay himself was a talented singer and orator, who delivered sermons as “the Boy Preacher.” And he was the first Black child to appear on the “Quiz Kids” TV show, which originated in Chicago.</p><p>Gay often performed with his sisters, appearing with them at Carnegie Hall in 1950 for the first exclusively gospel concert at the venue. He also played with them at the Apollo Theater in 1956.</p><p>“This was an exceptional American family,” Dolins writes in the book. “The level of success they achieved in the music industry is rare, especially considering all of the odds stacked against them.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-050000" name="image-050000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b305754/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1849x1038+0+848/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F18%2F27%2F92f3d7d24dbd8856e6d230abf844%2Fchi-dolins-fig05004.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/51aac8e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1849x1038+0+848/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F18%2F27%2F92f3d7d24dbd8856e6d230abf844%2Fchi-dolins-fig05004.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/59d9d19/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1849x1038+0+848/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F18%2F27%2F92f3d7d24dbd8856e6d230abf844%2Fchi-dolins-fig05004.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="A 1950 concert placard advertises the Gay Sisters featuring their 4-year-old brother, Gregory Donald Gay, the "Boy Preacher."" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/59d9d19/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1849x1038+0+848/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F18%2F27%2F92f3d7d24dbd8856e6d230abf844%2Fchi-dolins-fig05004.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fab00ad/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1849x1038+0+848/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F18%2F27%2F92f3d7d24dbd8856e6d230abf844%2Fchi-dolins-fig05004.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/59d9d19/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1849x1038+0+848/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F18%2F27%2F92f3d7d24dbd8856e6d230abf844%2Fchi-dolins-fig05004.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>A 1950 concert placard advertises the Gay Sisters featuring their 4-year-old brother, Gregory Donald Gay, the “Boy Preacher.”</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Provided</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Gay said he learned to brush off their many hardships, from not getting paid to being barred from hotels and the front entrance of restaurants due to the color of their skin.</p><p>“You realized that that was a part of life, and you just had to overcome it,” he said of the racism they experienced. “You didn't let it bother you. If you did, it would mess your whole life up. You just said, ‘It's got to get better.’”</p><p>He views “Can I Get a Witness!” as a testament to his family’s perseverance.</p><p>“It’s a good story to tell, because it's a story of a challenge that we overcame,” he said. “Sometimes we got knocked back, but we had the resiliency to come up and keep going.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-e30000" name="image-e30000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f8d8fd7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1250x702+0+266/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2Fad%2Ff18b362a4cb189c31fc3e79641bf%2Fchi-dolins-fig05003.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6886e23/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1250x702+0+266/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2Fad%2Ff18b362a4cb189c31fc3e79641bf%2Fchi-dolins-fig05003.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0b7b15a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1250x702+0+266/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2Fad%2Ff18b362a4cb189c31fc3e79641bf%2Fchi-dolins-fig05003.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="From left: Mildred Gay, Gregory Donald Gay, Geraldine Gay and Evelyn Gay at Elder Lucy Smith’s All Nations Pentecostal church in 1948." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0b7b15a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1250x702+0+266/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2Fad%2Ff18b362a4cb189c31fc3e79641bf%2Fchi-dolins-fig05003.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/59015a2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1250x702+0+266/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2Fad%2Ff18b362a4cb189c31fc3e79641bf%2Fchi-dolins-fig05003.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0b7b15a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1250x702+0+266/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2Fad%2Ff18b362a4cb189c31fc3e79641bf%2Fchi-dolins-fig05003.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>From left: Mildred Gay, Gregory Donald Gay, Geraldine Gay and Evelyn Gay at Elder Lucy Smith’s All Nations Pentecostal church in 1948.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Gay family collection</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-ae0000" name="module-ae0000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><b>“Can I Get a Witness! Faith, Family and Chicago Gospel Music” events</b><br><br>Pastor Gay in Concert. Oct. 26, 7 p.m. Wayfarer Theater, 1850 2nd St., Highland Park. Free.<br><br>Book Talk. Nov. 5, 4 p.m. The Seminary Co-op Bookstore, 5751 S. Woodlawn Ave. Free.</div> </div><p></p>

<p>It’s a wrap on Riot Fest 2026. But one big reminder of the weekend lingers in Douglass Park: all the mud, after heavy rains over the weekend turned the grounds into a quagmire by the end of the final set.</p><p>One Little Village community group, Únete La Villita, <a class="Link" href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/Ddjo1-txkDV/" target="_blank" ><u>posted on Instagram</u></a> Monday that the park is “completely destroyed,” adding concerns about the “long-term effects of the fest that’s ‘just three days’” and adding they will document the restoration over the next year.</p><p>Riot Fest founder Mike Petryshyn said in a statement Monday afternoon that his team’s “responsibility does not end when the festival does. We are committed to restoring the park, working alongside the Park District and the community, and seeing that work through.” </p><p>Besides tackling the immediate repairs, that also includes working with the 24th Ward and Chicago Park District on "other underlying conditions within Douglass Park" such as drainage and plumbing for "longer-term improvements," according to the statement.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-270000" name="image-270000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/32e3e1d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7348x4124+0+389/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff3%2F07%2Ff52abea043fa8339f9a7398f1879%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-91.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/82e338a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7348x4124+0+389/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff3%2F07%2Ff52abea043fa8339f9a7398f1879%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-91.JPG 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98f6d6e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7348x4124+0+389/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff3%2F07%2Ff52abea043fa8339f9a7398f1879%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-91.JPG" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="A pair of abandoned shoes remain stuck in deep mud as it rains in Douglass Park on Day 3 of Riot Fest, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98f6d6e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7348x4124+0+389/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff3%2F07%2Ff52abea043fa8339f9a7398f1879%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-91.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d3a0d2a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7348x4124+0+389/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff3%2F07%2Ff52abea043fa8339f9a7398f1879%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-91.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/98f6d6e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7348x4124+0+389/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff3%2F07%2Ff52abea043fa8339f9a7398f1879%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-91.JPG" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Attendees on Sunday were seen struggling to get through the muddy fields at Douglass Park, with some shoes lost to the sludge.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>A weekend of ongoing rain and heavy foot traffic from an estimated 50,000 daily attendees made it difficult to get around the park by Sunday evening, when the most anticipated acts, including Alanis Morissette and William Shatner, took the stage. As fans were leaving for the final time, some lost their shoes to the sludge, while others got stuck in it and were helped by strangers in a communal effort to make their way through the swamp.</p><p>A large part of the focus now is on what repairs will look like for Douglass Park in the days to come. The schedule to restore and fully reopen the park already has been altered.</p><p>Before and after the three-day event, Riot Fest organizers are given time to build and then break down the site. On the <a class="Link" href="https://riotfest.org/park-impact/#access" target="_blank" ><u>Riot Fest website,</u></a> the 2026 timeline had designated Sept. 21-24 for production load-out, cleaning and restoration. Sept. 25 had been listed as the date the park would be fully open to the public. But completing the load-out has since been pushed to Sept. 29, "weather and ground conditions permitting," according to the festival. “Immediately following load-out, Riot Fest, its restoration team, and the Chicago Park District will assess the affected areas and begin implementing the restoration plan,” organizers said in a statement.</p><p>As of publication time, the office of 24th Ward Ald. Monique Scott had not responded to a request to comment on the projected timeline, what repairs will include or what they might cost.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-f50000" name="image-f50000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3f6da45/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6860x3850+0+363/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7f%2F6c%2Fbb3bf2f94137baa388bfa62c2537%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-83.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1eca3fb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6860x3850+0+363/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7f%2F6c%2Fbb3bf2f94137baa388bfa62c2537%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-83.JPG 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0fca28b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6860x3850+0+363/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7f%2F6c%2Fbb3bf2f94137baa388bfa62c2537%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-83.JPG" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Attendees push a stroller through deep mud as it rains in Douglass Park on Day 3 of Riot Fest, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. " srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0fca28b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6860x3850+0+363/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7f%2F6c%2Fbb3bf2f94137baa388bfa62c2537%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-83.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/924670e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6860x3850+0+363/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7f%2F6c%2Fbb3bf2f94137baa388bfa62c2537%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-83.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0fca28b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6860x3850+0+363/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F7f%2F6c%2Fbb3bf2f94137baa388bfa62c2537%2Friotfestday3photos-260921-83.JPG" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Riot Fest attendees push a stroller through deep mud as it rains in Douglass Park on Day 3.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Fans had mixed feelings about the mess. </p><p>“As long as you’re counting one foot in front of the other, you’ll be OK. … It’s punk rock, it’s Riot Fest. Everyone is having a good time,” said Alex Ramos of Rogers Park, a repeat attendee who came out Sunday for Pierce the Veil and Pennywise. “We’ve still been seeing everybody but just battling the elements, as you can imagine.”</p><p> Joe Theis, 52, who traveled from Denver, agreed attendees seemed to take the mud in stride.</p><p>“I never made it to Woodstock ‘99 with the mud people and everything, but this is as close as I've ever been,” he said. “Everybody seems to be managing it OK.” </p><p>Grace Elliott, 35, of Cleveland, uses a walker and described difficulties navigating the park as conditions worsened. </p><p>“The wheels ... were getting gummed up with mud and grass, and even going over the wood chips, it was more like dragging my mobility aid through and … my feet were stuck in the ground.”</p><p> Elliott visited an on-site accessibility tent and called the crew there “very empathetic,” though she felt out of options and eventually decided to leave.</p><p>“They didn't straight up tell us you have to go home, but there weren't really options for many people, especially people like me who use a mobility aid,” she added, suggesting future accommodations like more metal ramps and pathways and using golf carts or ATVs to help those with limited mobility get around the park during inclement weather. </p><p>Riot Fest’s current <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-and-culture/2025/04/10/3-year-riot-fest-deal-draws-mixed-reviews-from-residents-around-douglass-park" target="_blank" ><u>three-year contract</u></a> in Douglass Park runs through 2027. Lauren Quinn, the Chicago Park District’s deputy director of revenue, said the department will generate roughly $3 million to $4.5 million from the deal via annual permit fees.</p><p>In 2026, the deal requires Riot Fest organizers to pay $5.375 per ticket. For 2027, it increases to $5.50 per ticket, estimated at 150,000 tickets sold for all three days.</p><p>From the money raised, the park district has a 30% “give back” policy in place specifically for Douglass Park, meaning $900,000 to $1.2 million is allocated solely for improvements to the North Lawndale grounds. The contract also stipulates Riot Fest will give an additional 10% toward “capital improvements in Douglass Park.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-b10000" name="image-b10000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/31ce10c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5341x2998+0+280/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F99%2F0d14747c4b3f84212165fd5806ee%2Friotmudreact-260922-16.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/302acd9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5341x2998+0+280/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F99%2F0d14747c4b3f84212165fd5806ee%2Friotmudreact-260922-16.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/789f655/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5341x2998+0+280/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F99%2F0d14747c4b3f84212165fd5806ee%2Friotmudreact-260922-16.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Douglass Park after Riot Fest weekend in North Lawndale, Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. " srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/789f655/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5341x2998+0+280/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F99%2F0d14747c4b3f84212165fd5806ee%2Friotmudreact-260922-16.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a8ec7b3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5341x2998+0+280/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F99%2F0d14747c4b3f84212165fd5806ee%2Friotmudreact-260922-16.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/789f655/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5341x2998+0+280/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F99%2F0d14747c4b3f84212165fd5806ee%2Friotmudreact-260922-16.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Douglass Park Monday after Riot Fest weekend in North Lawndale.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Park district staff typically does a pre- and post-event walk-through with event organizers to identify areas needing restoration after the event, according to a spokesperson. The cost for repairing and restoring the park will be determined after assessing the grounds, the park district spokesperson said, and Riot Fest organizers are responsible for all related costs.</p><p>Event organizers stated that "immediately following load-out, Riot Fest, its restoration team, and the Chicago Park District will assess the affected areas and begin implementing the restoration plan." </p><p>They have noted the repairs are "expected to include soil preparation, aeration, seeding, grading, and sod replacement where appropriate" and may require nearly 3 acres of sod.</p><p>It's similar to Lollapalooza negotiations between the park district and organizer C3 Presents, which also pays to rebeautify Grant Park each year. Though official numbers have not been released for 2026 repairs (after a similarly soggy event), C3 Presents paid the department $1 million in 2025.</p><p>Jorge Angel, a 10-year resident of the neighborhood, said he has previously filed complaints with the city about the festival because of the interruptions to youth programs at the park, but all have gone unanswered. Local schools that host events there are pushed off for up to a month, in addition to his kids’ sports league.</p><p>“My kids can’t play soccer because of Riot Fest,” Angel, 40, said in Spanish. “But Riot Fest pays too much money for the city to care.”</p><p>Some local community organizations already help clean up the park after Riot Fest. Alyssa Espinosa, a lifelong Chicago resident now living in Lawndale, said the city could step up and connect those groups with others around the city to see if they can aid help, as well.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-a30000" name="image-a30000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d2117b4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6080x3412+0+321/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd4%2F4b%2F1ef75d5448489c9302a04d31b7e4%2Friotmudreact-260922-17.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/96d8a9d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6080x3412+0+321/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd4%2F4b%2F1ef75d5448489c9302a04d31b7e4%2Friotmudreact-260922-17.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7864ea1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6080x3412+0+321/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd4%2F4b%2F1ef75d5448489c9302a04d31b7e4%2Friotmudreact-260922-17.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Alyssa Espinosa, a North Lawndale resident, shows off her boot outside Douglass Park on Monday, the day after Riot Fest wrapped up." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7864ea1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6080x3412+0+321/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd4%2F4b%2F1ef75d5448489c9302a04d31b7e4%2Friotmudreact-260922-17.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cdaf822/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6080x3412+0+321/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd4%2F4b%2F1ef75d5448489c9302a04d31b7e4%2Friotmudreact-260922-17.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7864ea1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6080x3412+0+321/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd4%2F4b%2F1ef75d5448489c9302a04d31b7e4%2Friotmudreact-260922-17.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Alyssa Espinosa, a North Lawndale resident, shows off her boot outside Douglass Park Monday, the day after Riot Fest wrapped up. “It would be great to connect those organizations to others and create this huge initiative of caring and supporting our community after and not just because they’re making a mud ocean,” Espinosa said.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>It could also be a way to help introduce more residents from other parts of the city to North Lawndale and encourage them to visit outside the festival weekend, she said.</p><p>“It would be great to connect those organizations to others and create this huge initiative of caring and supporting our community after and not just because they’re making a mud ocean,” Espinosa said. “Because nobody’s working together, they’re all fighting this uphill battle separately when they could just work together.”</p><p>It wasn’t just Riot Fest that was hit hard by weather — as reported in The Festive Owl, a festival news website, other large-scale events across the country, including Atlanta’s Shaky Knees and Ohio’s Lost Lands, among others, had evacuations or shortened hours as well due to weather.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-ee0000" name="html-embed-module-ee0000"></a><div class="contribly-contribute-v2" data-client="b20193c8-5c0c-4a5b-a770-64305c544c4e" data-assignment="df3f155f-b341-42ec-9016-329f286f505e" data-display="inline" data-language="en-gb"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/contribly-widgets/contribute/contribute-v2.5.js"></script> </div> </div><p></p>

<p><i>Good afternoon! It’s Monday, and I love seeing more phone-free concerts like the </i><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/music/2026/09/20/review-phoebe-bridgers-the-lost-tour-united-center" target="_blank" ><i><u>Phoebe Bridgers show</u></i></a><i> my colleague attended over the weekend. Here’s what you need to know today.</i></p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/graphics/chicago-school-board-education-voter-guide/" target="_blank" ><b><u>1. CPS Elected School Board 2026: Find your candidates and understand the races</u></b></a></p><p>For the first time, Chicagoans will elect the entire Board of Education — 20 members plus an at-large president. My colleagues built a handy tool that lets you find which district you vote in and compare candidates before Election Day on Nov. 3, 2026. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/graphics/chicago-school-board-education-voter-guide/" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p>Every eligible Chicagoan can cast two votes (yes, two!) — one for a candidate in your school board district, based on your home address, and a second time for school board president. Early voting starts Oct. 1.</p><p>Chicagoans are probably most familiar with one of the board’s core functions: making financial decisions. The school board can raise local property taxes and decide how to spend state and federal funding. Another key board power is hiring a CEO/superintendent and later evaluating their performance.</p><p>The board also votes to close and open schools, the academic calendar and on which buildings get upgrades. It also approves contracts, including collective bargaining agreements, and contracts with charter school operators. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/21/what-you-need-to-know-about-chicagos-historic-school-board-election" target="_blank" ><u>Chalkbeat Chicago/Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p>Here’s a list of organizations that do education-related work that made endorsements in the 2026 Chicago School Board election. My colleagues also list education-focused political action committees that don’t endorse but are providing financial support to specific candidates. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/chicago-school-board/2026/09/21/key-education-endorsements-for-cps-school-board-candidates" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-governor/2026/09/21/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-interview-glp-1-diabetes-weight-loss" target="_blank" ><b><u>2. Gov. Pritzker opened up about his 80 lb. weight loss and use of GLP-1</u></b></a></p><p>Gov. JB Pritzker publicly revealed for the first time that he has lost 80 pounds with the help of a GLP-1 weight loss medication, with plans to lose more, my colleague Tina Sfondeles reports.</p><p>Pritzker has always battled with his weight, crediting the struggle in part to “bad genes.” He’s also been the target of weight-related attacks and AI-generated memes shared by President Donald Trump — including fake images of him devouring pizza and a burger. Trump has also repeatedly called him a “fat slob,” a reference Pritzker certainly remembers.</p><p>He said he’s been on “every diet you could imagine” with no long-term success. But it wasn’t until a doctor diagnosed him with prediabetes, and later Type II diabetes, at age 58 that he began taking insulin and ultimately a GLP-1 medication to help regulate his blood sugar. Pritzker said the medication — combined with exercise and diet — has been so efficient that he stopped taking insulin nine months ago, and his blood sugar levels have gone back to normal.</p><p>More than two years into his weight loss journey, the governor said he wants to talk about it openly, largely in part because he knows millions of Americans are suffering from obesity-related health conditions. He added he didn’t talk about it sooner because he wanted to make sure the weight loss stuck. The disclosure also comes just months before Democrats are expected to announce their intentions to run for president.</p><p>For now, the governor won’t take the presidential bait and said he’s focusing on winning his third term for governor in November. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/illinois-governor/2026/09/21/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-interview-glp-1-diabetes-weight-loss" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/18/evanston-skokie-parents-fear-impact-hope-for-stability-as-district-looks-to-cut-20-million-close-2-schools" target="_blank" ><b><u>3. Evanston-Skokie School District 65 is looking to cut $20 million and close 2 schools</u></b></a></p><p>As Cindy Hernandez reports for the Chicago Sun-Times, the district has had a structural deficit for years, with expenses outpacing revenue. Officials said the district is also dealing with declining enrollment, lost revenue and rising costs all contributing to ongoing financial challenges.</p><p>The announcement comes after last year’s prolonged debate over school closures that ultimately led to the shutdown of Kingsley Elementary School and a $6 million cut in operational expenses. In 2024, the school board voted to close the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, which shuttered in June.</p><p>Parents and community members worry school closures and programming cuts could disproportionately affect families in marginalized communities or students enrolled in specialized programs.</p><p>Many of the district’s current challenges were expected, but parents say a lack of community trust made it difficult for district officials to address them.</p><p>“Hope is not a strategy, and that sort of feels like what we’ve been trying to do,” said Kelly Farley, a parent and member of the district’s finance committee. “Now we’re all paying for it, and it’s going to really affect our students.” [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/18/evanston-skokie-parents-fear-impact-hope-for-stability-as-district-looks-to-cut-20-million-close-2-schools" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/criminal-justice/2026/09/21/cook-county-jail-deaths-commissioners-board" target="_blank" ><b><u>4. A push for an independent review of Cook County Jail comes amid concerns over deaths and inadequate supervision</u></b></a></p><p>As WBEZ’s Anna Savchenko reports, a resolution calling for a review is scheduled for a vote tomorrow in the Health and Hospitals Committee of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Advocates, elected officials and faith leaders say a historic 2023 death toll underscores the need for third-party oversight.</p><p>Eighteen people died at the jail that year, many from drug overdoses tied to delays in medical care, according to an Injustice Watch investigation.</p><p>Michele Deitch, director of the Prison and Jail Innovation Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, said such a review is standard in many large U.S. cities.</p><p>“New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Denver, San Diego, just to name a few, have some form of independent oversight over the jail facilities in that jurisdiction. So Chicago is unusual in not having it,” Deitch said. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/criminal-justice/2026/09/21/cook-county-jail-deaths-commissioners-board" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/arts/2026/09/19/chicago-exhibition-week-gertie-west-town-galleries-collectors-art-free" target="_blank" ><b><u>5. Young art collectors converged on Chicago Exhibition Week in search of the next big talent</u></b></a></p><p>Among the collectors taking advantage of the Chicago Exhibition Week opening parties was Little Village-raised Sara Toussaint, 48, who now lives in Gainesville, Florida. Toussaint told the Chicago Sun-Times developing relationships with artists and gallerists is key to building a great collection.</p><p>She and her husband have on display in their home a 2021 Jiménez piece titled “Ghetto Wizard.” Toussaint said the piece, which incorporates the colors of the Puerto Rican flag, reminds her of the vibrant South Side neighborhood where she grew up.</p><p>Toussaint said her advice for new collectors is to inquire about layaway plans and staggered payments and to ask artists about selling prints or other work within their price range, whether it’s $200 or $20,000.</p><p>“I would say check out some of the art school events,” Toussaint added. “If you see something you love, the next thing you know, that could be someone who grows in their career professionally.” [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/arts/2026/09/19/chicago-exhibition-week-gertie-west-town-galleries-collectors-art-free" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><b>Here’s what else is happening</b></p><ul class="rte2-style-ul" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" id="rte-a70fbc31-b5f4-11f1-8bf2-9b42021ae9b4"><li>CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued the Trump administration after being barred from the White House. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.npr.org/2026/09/21/nx-s1-5975451/reporters-say-they-were-blocked-from-entering-white-house-after-trump-banned-outlets" target="_blank" ><u>NPR</u></a>]</li><li>The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry’s planned two-story, 458-foot-long entry pavilion threatens to visually overpower the historic entrance and great lawn, architecture critic Lee Bey writes. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/architecture-design/2026/09/21/griffin-museum-science-industry-design-ramsa-drawing-board" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</li><li>Chicago-style giardiniera can trace its origins to 130-year-old company Marconi Foods. [<a class="Link" href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/09/21/the-origins-of-chicago-style-giardiniera/" target="_blank" ><u>Block Club Chicago</u></a>]</li><li>Review: The Joffrey Ballet’s cinematic “Liliom” enthralls, even if its complexities tangle audiences. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/dance/2026/09/21/review-joffrey-liliom-john-neumeier-michel-legrand" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</li></ul><p><b>Oh, and one more thing …</b></p><p>A slender building decorated with heads carved out of stone on South Federal Street went up for sale last month for just under $5 million. If it sells soon, that will be the third sale since 2022.</p><p>This structure sandwiched between the Union League Club and a parking garage has been out of use at least 18 years and possibly much longer, but it was quite a place when it was up and running, WBEZ contributor Dennis Rodkin writes.</p><p>Seven stories high and just 22 feet wide, the red brick building at 316 S. Federal St. served as the home of St. Hubert’s Old English Grill, famed for its thick lamb chops and other hearty fare brought to the table by waiters in pink hunting jackets.</p><p>St. Hubert’s lived on the first three floors, while the four above housed a social club for engineers. Engineers Club’s founders included one who oversaw the reversal of the Chicago River and another who designed the carillon structure at Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/architecture/2026/09/21/whats-that-building-explorers-club-and-st-huberts-old-english-grill" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><b>Tell me something good …</b></p><p>This year has had so many good book releases (with more coming), which has me checking out new-to-me bookstores and library branches. That has me wondering, what is your favorite place to buy books in the Chicago area?</p><p>Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.</p>

<p>This fall, Chicagoans will vote for members of the city’s first fully elected school board. Every eligible Chicagoan can cast two votes (yes, two!) — one for a candidate in your school board district, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/graphics/chicago-school-board-education-voter-guide/" target="_blank" >based on your home address</a>, and a second time for school board president.</p><h3><b>How can I vote in school board elections?</b></h3><p>All voters, whether they have students in Chicago Public Schools or not, can cast ballots in the school board elections.</p><p>They are on the ballot in the Nov. 3 general election. <a class="Link" href="https://ova.elections.il.gov/" target="_blank" ><u>Online voter registration</u></a> is available until Oct. 18 and same-day registration is allowed at the polls. <a class="Link" href="https://chicagoelections.gov/voting/your-voter-information" target="_blank" ><u>Check your voter registration status here</u></a>. You must be 18 on election day, a U.S. citizen, and have lived at your current address for 30 days.</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicagoelections.gov/voting/early-votingvote-centers" target="_blank" ><u>Early voting</u></a> begins Oct. 1 at the Downtown Voting Supersite at 137 S. State St. and the Chicago Board of Elections Offices at 69 W. Washington St., Sixth Floor.</p><p>Additional <a class="Link" href="https://chicagoelections.gov/voting/early-votingvote-centers" target="_blank" ><u>early voting sites in all 50 wards</u></a> open Oct. 19. On Election Day Nov. 3, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find your <a class="Link" href="https://chicagoelections.gov/voting/your-voter-information" target="_blank" >assigned precinct polling place here</a>.</p><h3><b>How many school board seats are up for election?</b></h3><p>All 21 seats on the Chicago Board of Education are on the ballot. Each voter can pick their local representative on the board and the person they want to be school board president.</p><p>There are 43 candidates, plus three write-ins. Four people are running for school board president.</p><p>The city is divided into 20 electoral districts — 1a, 1b, etc.. You can look up which one you live in here. The president is elected citywide and will serve a four-year term until 2030.</p><p>When the new school board is seated in January, it will replace a board that is partially elected and partially appointed. That hybrid board, launched after elections in November 2024, was the first step toward the fully elected school board.</p><p>Half of the board members will serve four-year terms and the other half will serve two years. <a class="Link" href="https://www.ilga.gov/documents/legislation/ilcs/documents/010500050K34-3.htm" target="_blank" ><u>Per state law</u></a>, members elected to replace mayoral appointees will serve two years, while those in districts that had elections in 2024 will serve four years. The term lengths will swap starting in 2028.</p><h3><b>What does the school board do? </b></h3><p>School board members are responsible for the education of about 315,000 children at more than 600 schools and set priorities for Chicago Public Schools.</p><p>Chicagoans are probably most familiar with one of the board’s core functions: making financial decisions. The school board can raise local property taxes and decide how to spend state and federal funding.</p><p>In the last year, the board stepped into new territory when it amended the budget prepared by CPS leaders, bucking their warnings. A narrow majority of members <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/08/12/cps-says-it-cannot-reverse-all-layoffs/" target="_blank" ><u>voted to rescind hundreds of staff layoffs</u></a> and instead build in a revenue assumption that Illinois lawmakers would provide <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/chicago-school-board/2026/07/30/chicago-school-board-approves-budget-that-reverses-layoffs-but-counts-on-shaky-state-funds" >$150 million more</a> than they had already allocated.</p><p>Another key board power is <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/03/30/chicago-board-of-education-hires-macquline-king/" target="_blank" ><u>hiring a CEO/superintendent</u></a> and later evaluating their performance.</p><p>The board also votes to close and open schools, the academic calendar, and on which buildings get upgrades. It also approves contracts, including collective bargaining agreements, and contracts with charter school operators.</p><p>In Chicago, the board now has power to gather <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/08/13/chicago-public-schools-board-backs-revenue-referendums/" target="_blank" ><u>community input through referendums</u></a>.</p><p>Board members are not paid.</p><h3><b>Why didn’t Chicago always vote for school board members?</b></h3><p>Since 1995, the mayor has appointed Chicago’s school board members. Before that, there was typically a nomination process to place members on the board.</p><p>Outside Chicago, most <a class="Link" href="https://www.npr.org/2026/02/17/nx-s1-5717076/americas-school-boards-in-2026" target="_blank" ><u>school boards in Illinois and across the U.S.</u></a> are elected.</p><p>But over the last two decades in Chicago, demand for an elected board grew with prominent organizations such as <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2021/7/30/22602068/illinois-governor-approves-elected-chicago-school-board/" target="_blank" ><u>the Chicago Teachers Union championing the change</u></a> to hold the board accountable to families and educators. Several decisions by the appointed board had soured public perceptions of the governing body, including its unanimous vote approving <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/06/13/chicago-public-schools-declining-enrollment-causes-small-schools-high-costs/" target="_blank" ><u>former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to close about 50 schools</u></a>.</p><p>The bill creating the elected school board <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2021/6/16/22537184/chicago-elected-school-board-bill-clears-hurdle-but-questions-remain/" target="_blank" ><u>passed in 2021</u></a>.</p><p>The implementation was rocky in Springfield, and it faced <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2021/3/25/22351382/chicago-elected-school-board-bill-gains-momentum-calls-grow-for-another-option/" target="_blank" ><u>pushback from some local groups and former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot</u></a> as it slowly got off the ground. As part of the path to a fully elected board, lawmakers required <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2024/09/25/cps-school-board-november-election-voter-guide-meet-the-candidates/" target="_blank" ><u>half the board to be elected</u></a> in 2024. The other half remained mayoral appointees, with the mayor retaining a majority.</p><p><i>Becky Vevea is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Chicago. Makiya Seminera is a Chalkbeat reporter covering how the state and federal government affect education in Chicago and across Illinois. Emmanuel Camarillo is an education reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.</i></p>

<p>“She’s a genius.”</p><p>“She’s gonna be famous one day.”</p><p>This was the chatter among audiences who gathered inside the theater this week at the <a class="Link" href="https://www.gertie.co/" target="_blank" ><u>Gertie Hub</u></a>, 400 N. Peoria, to see <a class="Link" href="https://www.instagram.com/trophysophie/?hl=en" target="_blank" ><u>Sophie Becker</u></a> perform with her ventriloquist dummy, Ronnie Woods.</p><p>Throughout the act, the pair were singing, swapping voices, creating sound effects and more.</p><p>The production, part of a show called “82 Nights Only,” was one of several events happening around the kickoff week for <a class="Link" href="https://www.chicagoexhibitionweek.com/" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Exhibition Week</u></a>. Happening through Sunday, the event — organized by Chicago contemporary art platform Gertie — spotlights more than 40 art galleries and creative institutions. </p><p>Many of the affiliated galleries have set up new shows that are visible through the fall, and others through next year. (Click here for our gallery guide of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/art/2026/09/14/art-gallery-guide-chicago-exhibition-week-galleries-west-loop-contemporary" target="_blank" ><u>10 local art shows</u></a> to see this fall.)</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-2a0000" name="image-2a0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ae12be4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7309x4102+0+387/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9b%2F9f%2F620aa25540e5acd151352e115e4f%2F2026-09-16-gertie-performances-77.jpeg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/102ed38/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7309x4102+0+387/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9b%2F9f%2F620aa25540e5acd151352e115e4f%2F2026-09-16-gertie-performances-77.jpeg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3a8e9ee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7309x4102+0+387/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9b%2F9f%2F620aa25540e5acd151352e115e4f%2F2026-09-16-gertie-performances-77.jpeg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Ventriloquist Sophie Becker performs at the Gertie Hub, 400 N. Peoria, during the opening reception of "82 Nights Only."" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3a8e9ee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7309x4102+0+387/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9b%2F9f%2F620aa25540e5acd151352e115e4f%2F2026-09-16-gertie-performances-77.jpeg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9ff8a48/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7309x4102+0+387/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9b%2F9f%2F620aa25540e5acd151352e115e4f%2F2026-09-16-gertie-performances-77.jpeg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3a8e9ee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7309x4102+0+387/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9b%2F9f%2F620aa25540e5acd151352e115e4f%2F2026-09-16-gertie-performances-77.jpeg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Ventriloquist Sophie Becker performs at the Gertie Hub, 400 N. Peoria, during the opening reception of “82 Nights Only.”</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Evan Jenkins</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The ventriloquist show is not wall art, but that was the point. The exhibition week is meant to attract old and new art lovers and collectors and poke fun at the often stuffy and unwelcoming gallery culture.</p><p>“What we're trying to do is offer a couple of different on-ramps to people,” said Abby Pucker, the founder of Gertie, who is incentivizing those who visit at least four galleries to collect stickers from each and get free admission to the Museum of Contemporary Art on Sunday. “My ask to people actually is to get up and go do stuff. Be in the world and use it as an opportunity to invite friends.”</p><p>Running through Dec. 13, “82 Nights Only” features a rotating array of artists' work and performances. No one night will be anything like the last. “We want people to keep coming back,” Pucker said.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-bf0000" name="image-bf0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/791eeec/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F29%2F1c%2Fd912cfd54763a58f2b65607ca835%2Fchiexweek-260919-37.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fde6035/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F29%2F1c%2Fd912cfd54763a58f2b65607ca835%2Fchiexweek-260919-37.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7fd62eb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F29%2F1c%2Fd912cfd54763a58f2b65607ca835%2Fchiexweek-260919-37.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Gallery visitors converse during the Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7fd62eb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F29%2F1c%2Fd912cfd54763a58f2b65607ca835%2Fchiexweek-260919-37.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/61012cc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F29%2F1c%2Fd912cfd54763a58f2b65607ca835%2Fchiexweek-260919-37.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7fd62eb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F29%2F1c%2Fd912cfd54763a58f2b65607ca835%2Fchiexweek-260919-37.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Gallery visitors converse during the Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“It's a little cheeky,” said Chanelle Lacy, Gertie’s head of programming, partnerships and memberships. “And we're in on the joke with you: We're going to bring you to this space and show you very serious, interesting contemporary art, but we're also going to laugh and have a good time and kind of poke fun at the fact that we get poked fun at.”</p><p>About a mile west of the Gertie Hub on Thursday, art lovers and collectors descended upon West Town galleries to go door-to-door and get first looks at works by a mix of local and international talents.</p><p>Dancer-artist <a class="Link" href="https://privateviews.artlogic.net/2/68ea5c6ecaa1824299da8b/" target="_blank" ><u>Brendan Fernandes</u></a> mingled with guests who came to see his work on view at Monique Meloche Gallery (451 N. Paulina St.), while over at DOCUMENT (1709 W. Chicago Ave.) Slovakian artist <a class="Link" href="https://privateviews.artlogic.net/2/23624780f62b3a68fed7e1/" target="_blank" ><u>Alexandra Barth</u></a>’s intricate awning paintings drew people in. Black Puerto Rican artist <a class="Link" href="https://marianeibrahim.com/exhibitions/122-clotilde-jimenez-eramos-silencios/overview/" target="_blank" ><u>Clotilde Jiménez</u></a>’s colorful collage works made Mariane Ibrahim (437 N. Paulina St.) a destination. And School of the Art Institute alum <a class="Link" href="https://privateviews.artlogic.net/2/a6f5b859111342cff89f51/" target="_blank" ><u>Arina Erdélyi</u></a> had a prominent showcase at Volume (1700 W. Hubbard St.)</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-fe0000" name="image-fe0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4c4c1e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F46%2F1f6925084e789158f745344556ee%2Fchiexweek-260919-36.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b698b15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F46%2F1f6925084e789158f745344556ee%2Fchiexweek-260919-36.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/34798ed/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F46%2F1f6925084e789158f745344556ee%2Fchiexweek-260919-36.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Lamp and furniture artist and art collector Arina Erdélyi poses for a portrait inside Volume Gallery during the Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/34798ed/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F46%2F1f6925084e789158f745344556ee%2Fchiexweek-260919-36.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dfa3464/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F46%2F1f6925084e789158f745344556ee%2Fchiexweek-260919-36.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/34798ed/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff6%2F46%2F1f6925084e789158f745344556ee%2Fchiexweek-260919-36.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Lamp and furniture artist and art collector Arina Erdélyi poses for a portrait inside Volume Gallery during the Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Among the collectors taking advantage of the Chicago Exhibition Week opening parties was Little Village-raised Sara Toussaint, 48, who now lives in Gainesville, Florida. Toussaint agreed that developing relationships with artists and gallerists is key to building a great collection.</p><p>She and her husband have on display in their home a 2021 Jiménez piece titled <a class="Link" href="https://www.clotildejimenez.art/artworks/9487-ghetto-wizard-2021/" target="_blank" ><u>“Ghetto Wizard.”</u></a> Toussaint said the piece, which incorporates the colors of the Puerto Rican flag, reminds her of the vibrant South Side neighborhood she grew up in.</p><p>“I don’t consider Little Village a ghetto. But it was such a great place to grow up,” she said. “It really impacted the rest of my life and career.” Through gallerist Mariane Ibrahim, she visited Jiménez’s Mexico City studio in February 2020.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-fa0000" name="image-fa0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4f4d5bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F5a%2F35%2F145832344c34bfbf76148c725511%2Fchiexweek-260919-33.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b539a67/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F5a%2F35%2F145832344c34bfbf76148c725511%2Fchiexweek-260919-33.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4c60d1b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F5a%2F35%2F145832344c34bfbf76148c725511%2Fchiexweek-260919-33.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Art collector Sara Toussaint poses for a portrait alongside large ceramics during the Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4c60d1b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F5a%2F35%2F145832344c34bfbf76148c725511%2Fchiexweek-260919-33.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3bf5d43/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F5a%2F35%2F145832344c34bfbf76148c725511%2Fchiexweek-260919-33.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4c60d1b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F5a%2F35%2F145832344c34bfbf76148c725511%2Fchiexweek-260919-33.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Art collector Sara Toussaint poses for a portrait alongside large ceramics during the Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“When I learned he was Puerto Rican, the work kind of gravitated towards me. At that moment I was like, ‘I do want to support artists that I feel like I can identify with and are typically underrepresented,’” she said.</p><p>Toussaint, who works in sports marketing, said her advice for new collectors is to inquire about layaway plans and staggered payments and to ask artists about selling prints or other work within their price range, whether it's $200 or $20,000.</p><p>“I would say check out some of the art school events,” Toussaint added. “If you see something you love, the next thing you know, that could be someone who grows in their career professionally.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-dc0000" name="image-dc0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/82fd8ae/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5929x3328+0+313/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdb%2Feb%2Fcdddf71248e69b53c3062ceeaa79%2Fchiexweek-260919-31.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6defc71/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5929x3328+0+313/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdb%2Feb%2Fcdddf71248e69b53c3062ceeaa79%2Fchiexweek-260919-31.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7e82efb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5929x3328+0+313/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdb%2Feb%2Fcdddf71248e69b53c3062ceeaa79%2Fchiexweek-260919-31.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Visitors browse large-scale works by artist Clotilde Jiménez at Mariane Ibrahim Gallery during Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7e82efb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5929x3328+0+313/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdb%2Feb%2Fcdddf71248e69b53c3062ceeaa79%2Fchiexweek-260919-31.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/22efdf2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5929x3328+0+313/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdb%2Feb%2Fcdddf71248e69b53c3062ceeaa79%2Fchiexweek-260919-31.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7e82efb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5929x3328+0+313/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdb%2Feb%2Fcdddf71248e69b53c3062ceeaa79%2Fchiexweek-260919-31.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Visitors browse large-scale works by artist Clotilde Jiménez at Mariane Ibrahim Gallery during Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Chicago-based collector Erinne Brown said that she purchased <a class="Link" href="https://www.gertie.co/store/office-hours-erol-scott-harris" target="_blank" ><u>Erol Scott Harris</u></a>’ piece “Doorstop” for $2,000 this week. At 39, she’s been building her own inventory of work for the last two years.</p><p>“I started off super small and I mean that literally,” Brown said. She visited the Barely Fair during EXPO Chicago in 2024 and came across a miniature painting that “spoke to me,” she said.</p><p>Over time, she began thinking “more strategically” about creating her art budget and making sure she felt connected to her collection rather than making impulsive decisions.</p><p>Originally from Maryland, Brown lived in New York City before moving to Chicago for a job.</p><p>“I didn't always feel like these types of spaces and conversations were as accessible [in New York],” she said. “Coming to Chicago, I felt it to be a very welcoming environment to really ask questions, get to know artists and feel more connected to the work.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-bc0000" name="image-bc0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4ec9201/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5774x3241+0+306/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F50%2Ff65590524f598ee8a36582e91f0b%2Fchiexweek-260919-21.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2a2a7de/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5774x3241+0+306/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F50%2Ff65590524f598ee8a36582e91f0b%2Fchiexweek-260919-21.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5eed55f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5774x3241+0+306/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F50%2Ff65590524f598ee8a36582e91f0b%2Fchiexweek-260919-21.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Dancer-artist Brendan Fernandes discusses his artwork with collector Garrett Schwindt during the Chicago Exhibition Week at Monique Meloche Gallery." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5eed55f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5774x3241+0+306/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F50%2Ff65590524f598ee8a36582e91f0b%2Fchiexweek-260919-21.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/208b688/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5774x3241+0+306/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F50%2Ff65590524f598ee8a36582e91f0b%2Fchiexweek-260919-21.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5eed55f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5774x3241+0+306/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F50%2Ff65590524f598ee8a36582e91f0b%2Fchiexweek-260919-21.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Dancer-artist Brendan Fernandes discusses his artwork with collector Garrett Schwindt during the Chicago Exhibition Week at Monique Meloche Gallery.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Garett Schwindt, a Chicago-based psychotherapist who was browsing the collection at Monique Meloche Gallery on Thursday, began collecting art about 10 years ago.</p><p>“I went to an auction and accidentally bought a few pieces,” he said. “I couldn't afford it at the time.” But once he started living with the art, Schwindt continued, he understood he could make it an intentional pursuit.</p><p>Schwindt, 33, who stopped to chat with artist Brendan Fernandes at the gallery opening Thursday, said young aspiring collectors should talk to everyone and learn as much as possible this weekend and beyond. “Everybody in Chicago is gonna be so generous with their information and time.”</p><p>See more from Chicago Exhibition Week:</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-cd0000" name="image-cd0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b6f5dba/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F98%2F6b%2F82d3cea540c5b779ff88a94250eb%2Fchiexweek-260919-15.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/910145a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F98%2F6b%2F82d3cea540c5b779ff88a94250eb%2Fchiexweek-260919-15.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1d0f94d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F98%2F6b%2F82d3cea540c5b779ff88a94250eb%2Fchiexweek-260919-15.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Visitors view materials and guides during Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1d0f94d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F98%2F6b%2F82d3cea540c5b779ff88a94250eb%2Fchiexweek-260919-15.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1c41a55/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F98%2F6b%2F82d3cea540c5b779ff88a94250eb%2Fchiexweek-260919-15.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1d0f94d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F98%2F6b%2F82d3cea540c5b779ff88a94250eb%2Fchiexweek-260919-15.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Visitors view materials and guides during Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-9b0000" name="image-9b0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2b07c4e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5653x3173+0+298/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F24%2F41%2F9ec1ecb842fca1405296d8e784f0%2Fchiexweek-260919-23.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/84658e0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5653x3173+0+298/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F24%2F41%2F9ec1ecb842fca1405296d8e784f0%2Fchiexweek-260919-23.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/100ccfc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5653x3173+0+298/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F24%2F41%2F9ec1ecb842fca1405296d8e784f0%2Fchiexweek-260919-23.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Visitors come and go at Mariane Ibrahim Gallery during Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/100ccfc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5653x3173+0+298/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F24%2F41%2F9ec1ecb842fca1405296d8e784f0%2Fchiexweek-260919-23.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c1aa625/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5653x3173+0+298/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F24%2F41%2F9ec1ecb842fca1405296d8e784f0%2Fchiexweek-260919-23.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/100ccfc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5653x3173+0+298/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F24%2F41%2F9ec1ecb842fca1405296d8e784f0%2Fchiexweek-260919-23.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Visitors come and go at Mariane Ibrahim Gallery during Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-e70000" name="image-e70000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/940a3c4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2F24%2Fc475b935435cad1aec7afe412586%2Fchiexweek-260919-7.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7efb984/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2F24%2Fc475b935435cad1aec7afe412586%2Fchiexweek-260919-7.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4858b91/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2F24%2Fc475b935435cad1aec7afe412586%2Fchiexweek-260919-7.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Slovakian artist Alexandra Barth poses for a portrait inside DOCUMENT during the opening reception of her exhibition, "The Awnings," for Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4858b91/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2F24%2Fc475b935435cad1aec7afe412586%2Fchiexweek-260919-7.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aa1fdc6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2F24%2Fc475b935435cad1aec7afe412586%2Fchiexweek-260919-7.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4858b91/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2F24%2Fc475b935435cad1aec7afe412586%2Fchiexweek-260919-7.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Slovakian artist Alexandra Barth poses for a portrait inside DOCUMENT during the opening reception of her exhibition, “The Awnings,” for Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-060000" name="image-060000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f7ae694/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2F19%2F3e62ef664caa97623c814ff823ba%2Fchiexweek-260919-24.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/28888d4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2F19%2F3e62ef664caa97623c814ff823ba%2Fchiexweek-260919-24.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dc08bf5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2F19%2F3e62ef664caa97623c814ff823ba%2Fchiexweek-260919-24.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Visitors arrive at a multi-use building at 1700 W. Hubbard St., home of Volume Gallery, for Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dc08bf5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2F19%2F3e62ef664caa97623c814ff823ba%2Fchiexweek-260919-24.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cfc5d9a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2F19%2F3e62ef664caa97623c814ff823ba%2Fchiexweek-260919-24.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dc08bf5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F31%2F19%2F3e62ef664caa97623c814ff823ba%2Fchiexweek-260919-24.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Visitors arrive at a multi-use building at 1700 W. Hubbard St., home of Volume Gallery, for Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-8d0000" name="image-8d0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d5b9e24/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F49%2F29c838d94f159cb46bef0e805864%2Fchiexweek-260919-27.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/158a82c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F49%2F29c838d94f159cb46bef0e805864%2Fchiexweek-260919-27.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b45a763/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F49%2F29c838d94f159cb46bef0e805864%2Fchiexweek-260919-27.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Art enthusiasts view textile paintings by Christy Matso at Volume Gallery during Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b45a763/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F49%2F29c838d94f159cb46bef0e805864%2Fchiexweek-260919-27.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/edacc18/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F49%2F29c838d94f159cb46bef0e805864%2Fchiexweek-260919-27.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b45a763/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F49%2F29c838d94f159cb46bef0e805864%2Fchiexweek-260919-27.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Art enthusiasts view textile paintings by Christy Matso at Volume Gallery during Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-3b0000" name="image-3b0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0e051f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcd%2F3b%2Fa1d22fa34e8cb7eeae6e10597bfd%2Fchiexweek-260919-29.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/96cf310/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcd%2F3b%2Fa1d22fa34e8cb7eeae6e10597bfd%2Fchiexweek-260919-29.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a79a693/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcd%2F3b%2Fa1d22fa34e8cb7eeae6e10597bfd%2Fchiexweek-260919-29.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Artist Clotilde Jiménez poses for a portrait in the back patio at Mariane Ibrahim Gallery during the Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a79a693/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcd%2F3b%2Fa1d22fa34e8cb7eeae6e10597bfd%2Fchiexweek-260919-29.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0d4eebc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcd%2F3b%2Fa1d22fa34e8cb7eeae6e10597bfd%2Fchiexweek-260919-29.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a79a693/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcd%2F3b%2Fa1d22fa34e8cb7eeae6e10597bfd%2Fchiexweek-260919-29.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Artist Clotilde Jiménez poses for a portrait in the back patio at Mariane Ibrahim Gallery during the Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-ed0000" name="image-ed0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c976f73/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5191x2913+0+275/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F19%2Fc86155bd471bb056463a81caf080%2Fchiexweek-260919-12.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/49117de/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5191x2913+0+275/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F19%2Fc86155bd471bb056463a81caf080%2Fchiexweek-260919-12.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f8bf349/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5191x2913+0+275/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F19%2Fc86155bd471bb056463a81caf080%2Fchiexweek-260919-12.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="A Chicago Exhibition Week attendee points to a location on an interactive map printed for Thursday night's gallery crawls." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f8bf349/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5191x2913+0+275/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F19%2Fc86155bd471bb056463a81caf080%2Fchiexweek-260919-12.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7a3205c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5191x2913+0+275/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F19%2Fc86155bd471bb056463a81caf080%2Fchiexweek-260919-12.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f8bf349/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5191x2913+0+275/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F68%2F19%2Fc86155bd471bb056463a81caf080%2Fchiexweek-260919-12.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>A Chicago Exhibition Week attendee points to a location on an interactive map printed for Thursday night’s gallery crawls.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-290000" name="image-290000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a2784d9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F78%2F47%2F3b0e2e1d47beac9f8c4630f64839%2Fchiexweek-260919-9.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6e70bca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F78%2F47%2F3b0e2e1d47beac9f8c4630f64839%2Fchiexweek-260919-9.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8ce1d7e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F78%2F47%2F3b0e2e1d47beac9f8c4630f64839%2Fchiexweek-260919-9.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Slovakian artist Alexandra Barth (center) speaks with visitors during the opening reception for her exhibition, "The Awnings," at DOCUMENT during Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8ce1d7e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F78%2F47%2F3b0e2e1d47beac9f8c4630f64839%2Fchiexweek-260919-9.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/58226c4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F78%2F47%2F3b0e2e1d47beac9f8c4630f64839%2Fchiexweek-260919-9.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8ce1d7e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F78%2F47%2F3b0e2e1d47beac9f8c4630f64839%2Fchiexweek-260919-9.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Slovakian artist Alexandra Barth (center) speaks with visitors during the opening reception for her exhibition “The Awnings” at DOCUMENT during Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-5d0000" name="image-5d0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d9136de/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F93%2Ff7%2Ff18aed21476ebf804103942a4057%2Fchiexweek-260919-6.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/92ef246/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F93%2Ff7%2Ff18aed21476ebf804103942a4057%2Fchiexweek-260919-6.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e0c7354/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F93%2Ff7%2Ff18aed21476ebf804103942a4057%2Fchiexweek-260919-6.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Visitors view sculptures and installations by Olivia Zubko at Western Exhibitions during Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e0c7354/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F93%2Ff7%2Ff18aed21476ebf804103942a4057%2Fchiexweek-260919-6.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b3a27bd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F93%2Ff7%2Ff18aed21476ebf804103942a4057%2Fchiexweek-260919-6.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e0c7354/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6048x3394+0+319/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F93%2Ff7%2Ff18aed21476ebf804103942a4057%2Fchiexweek-260919-6.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Visitors view sculptures and installations by Olivia Zubko at Western Exhibitions during Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-410000" name="image-410000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fdde12f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5873x3296+0+310/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F72%2F8af7151c4eb6900f30982f640c51%2Fchiexweek-260919-28.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b0fdd3f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5873x3296+0+310/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F72%2F8af7151c4eb6900f30982f640c51%2Fchiexweek-260919-28.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a242958/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5873x3296+0+310/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F72%2F8af7151c4eb6900f30982f640c51%2Fchiexweek-260919-28.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Ceramic table lamps and wall works by artist Arina Erdélyi are displayed for her exhibition, "Arrangements," during Chicago Exhibition Week at Volume Gallery." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a242958/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5873x3296+0+310/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F72%2F8af7151c4eb6900f30982f640c51%2Fchiexweek-260919-28.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/56f308a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5873x3296+0+310/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F72%2F8af7151c4eb6900f30982f640c51%2Fchiexweek-260919-28.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a242958/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5873x3296+0+310/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F72%2F8af7151c4eb6900f30982f640c51%2Fchiexweek-260919-28.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Ceramic table lamps and wall works by artist Arina Erdélyi are displayed for her exhibition, “Arrangements,” during Chicago Exhibition Week at Volume Gallery.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-270000" name="image-270000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8aa57cc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5900x3311+0+312/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F3e%2F47%2F76ce18f749e5984277052843b138%2Fchiexweek-260919-8-1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ee20279/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5900x3311+0+312/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F3e%2F47%2F76ce18f749e5984277052843b138%2Fchiexweek-260919-8-1.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d5510b5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5900x3311+0+312/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F3e%2F47%2F76ce18f749e5984277052843b138%2Fchiexweek-260919-8-1.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Visitors view black-and-white photography from artist Nolis Anderson’s exhibition, "No Such Thing," at Elise Seigenthaler Gallery during Chicago Exhibition Week." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d5510b5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5900x3311+0+312/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F3e%2F47%2F76ce18f749e5984277052843b138%2Fchiexweek-260919-8-1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/85eea43/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5900x3311+0+312/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F3e%2F47%2F76ce18f749e5984277052843b138%2Fchiexweek-260919-8-1.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d5510b5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5900x3311+0+312/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F3e%2F47%2F76ce18f749e5984277052843b138%2Fchiexweek-260919-8-1.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Visitors view black-and-white photography from artist Nolis Anderson’s exhibition, “No Such Thing,” at Elise Seigenthaler Gallery during Chicago Exhibition Week.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Victor Hilitski/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-d20000" name="module-d20000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h3><b>Your guide to fall culture in Chicago </b></h3><ul class="rte2-style-ul" id="rte-f6c56c02-ac5f-11f1-988e-bd5e5ce8e98f"><li>The next big thing is happening on Chicago’s small stages. <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/things-to-do/2026/09/04/theater-to-see-chicago-fall-storefront-tickets-new-plays-musicals" target="_blank" ><u>Here are 10 plays and musicals</u></a> not to miss this theater season.</li><li>The ultimate guide to <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/movies-tv/2026/09/10/chicago-fall-film-festivals-events-things-to-do-movies-ciff-cuff-reeling" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago’s fall film festivals</u></a>, from Oscar contenders to local standouts</li><li>Evanston’s $32 million <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/theater-stages/2026/09/03/evanston-northlight-theater-chicago-suburbs-arts-annex" target="_blank" ><u>new Northlight Theatre</u></a> wasn’t built for big crowds. It’s built for new plays.</li><li><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/arts/2026/09/08/mary-cassatt-after-impressionism-art-institute-chicago-paintings-impressionist-mural-worlds-fair-1893" target="_blank" ><u>“Mary Cassatt: After Impressionism”</u></a> is the Art Institute’s first deep-dive into Cassatt in more than 25 years and explores some of her historical Chicago ties.</li><li>There’s action in Chicago’s art galleries. Here are <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/art/2026/09/14/art-gallery-guide-chicago-exhibition-week-galleries-west-loop-contemporary" >10 shows not to miss</a></li></ul></div> </div><p></p>

<p>Parents in Evanston/Skokie School District 65 say they feel a growing sense of fear and resignation over the district’s dire financial situation after officials announced plans this week to cut $20 million from the budget and close at least two of 16 schools.</p><p>For years, the district has had a structural deficit, with expenses outpacing revenue. Officials said the district is also dealing with declining enrollment, lost revenue and rising costs — all of which have contributed to ongoing financial challenges.</p><p>The announcement comes after last year’s prolonged debate over school closures that ultimately led to the <a class="Link" href="https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/06/05/kingsley-elementary-school-closed/" target="_blank" >closure of Kingsley Elementary School</a> and a $6 million cut in operational expenses. In 2024, the school board voted to close the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies, <a class="Link" href="https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/06/05/bessie-rhodes-closed-last-day/" target="_blank" >which shuttered in June</a>.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-bf0000" name="image-bf0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/25e796b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6602x3705+0+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb1%2Fe7%2F2842907f412dbb7497aacb0cd178%2Fevanstonschools-260919-5.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5528788/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6602x3705+0+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb1%2Fe7%2F2842907f412dbb7497aacb0cd178%2Fevanstonschools-260919-5.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3da808e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6602x3705+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb1%2Fe7%2F2842907f412dbb7497aacb0cd178%2Fevanstonschools-260919-5.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The former Kingsley Elementary School in Evanston." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3da808e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6602x3705+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb1%2Fe7%2F2842907f412dbb7497aacb0cd178%2Fevanstonschools-260919-5.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/809cc45/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6602x3705+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb1%2Fe7%2F2842907f412dbb7497aacb0cd178%2Fevanstonschools-260919-5.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3da808e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6602x3705+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb1%2Fe7%2F2842907f412dbb7497aacb0cd178%2Fevanstonschools-260919-5.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Evanston/Skokie School District 65 closed Kingsley Elementary School at the end of the 2025-26 school year.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Last year, parents and community members expressed outrage over the proposed cuts and pushed the school board to scale them back. Their efforts helped prevent Lincolnwood Elementary from closing. Now, they find themselves back in a similar situation.</p><p>“I think parents are worn out from last year's fight, and perhaps there's not so much fight left,” said parent Erika Crowther “They feel a little bit resigned to the decision that’s going to be made, and I think that folks are a bit burned out.”</p><p>At a school board meeting Monday, interim Supt. Eric Witherspoon said incremental cuts won’t fix the problem and it’s time to “break the cycle” of deficits.</p><p>“We can end this annual crisis situation, and we can actually have real stability, and more future planning in this district,” Witherspoon said.</p><p>Officials said the district serves about 5,900 students, a 16% decline in enrollment over the last five years. The district is at about 66% capacity, meaning there is room for around 3,000 more students. But officials say staffing levels have not declined at the same pace.</p><p>To close the budget gap, officials plan to cut $20 million from the district’s budget — about 11% — and close more schools by the 2028 school year. The plan includes examining “non-mandated” programs, adjusting staffing ratios and pay, and pursuing more revenue sources.</p><p>Witherspoon said the district will release details Oct. 13 on how it plans to make those cuts.</p><p>Many of the district’s current challenges were expected, but parents say a lack of community trust made it difficult for district officials to address them.</p><p>“Hope is not a strategy, and that sort of feels like what we've been trying to do,” said Kelly Farley, a parent and member of the district’s finance committee. “Now we're all paying for it, and it's going to really affect our students.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-c90000" name="image-c90000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0273248/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5599x3142+0+330/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffb%2F8a%2F01a06dab45da96ce2d7befe8abe6%2Fevanstonschools-260919-9.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fb35798/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5599x3142+0+330/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffb%2F8a%2F01a06dab45da96ce2d7befe8abe6%2Fevanstonschools-260919-9.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5a3dfe9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5599x3142+0+330/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffb%2F8a%2F01a06dab45da96ce2d7befe8abe6%2Fevanstonschools-260919-9.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Lincolnwood Elementary School in Evanston." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5a3dfe9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5599x3142+0+330/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffb%2F8a%2F01a06dab45da96ce2d7befe8abe6%2Fevanstonschools-260919-9.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d573187/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5599x3142+0+330/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffb%2F8a%2F01a06dab45da96ce2d7befe8abe6%2Fevanstonschools-260919-9.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5a3dfe9/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5599x3142+0+330/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffb%2F8a%2F01a06dab45da96ce2d7befe8abe6%2Fevanstonschools-260919-9.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>District 65 considered, but decided not to close Lincolnwood Elementary School in Evanston last year. Now the district plans to close at least two schools, but has yet to announce which ones are under consideration.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Parents and community members are also concerned that school closures and programming cuts could disproportionately affect families in marginalized communities or students enrolled in specialized programs.</p><p>“I think that the administration has used equity as an argument when it benefits them, and then they tend to ignore it when it's not convenient,” said Crowther.</p><p>District 65 did not respond to an email seeking comment.</p><p>But some parents say they hope the changes will lead to a more stable future and positive outcomes for all students.</p><p>“I really hope that we as a community can align and come to agreement on the reality of what our situation is,” said Farley, who is also a member of the community coalition Thrive65. “Then come together and support each other, and figure out how to move forward in a way that doesn’t pit schools against each other. Instead, we think about it holistically and about what we can do to make this district amazing.”</p><p>Farley and others are working to keep families informed about how the proposed changes could affect their children.</p><p>Thrive65 is holding an <a class="Link" href="https://wethrive65.org/" target="_blank" >informational meeting Sunday</a> to explain the announcement and share opportunities for parents and community members to get involved.</p><p>The district <a class="Link" href="https://www.district65.net/post-details/~board/evanstonskokie/post/community-meetings-a-sustainable-path-forward" target="_blank" >is also hosting community meetings</a> next week to explain the decision to families, staff and residents.</p>

<p>Riot Fest 2026 kicked off Friday in Chicago's Douglass Park with a big cross-generational mix, featuring flagship bands of elder Gen X and younger groups beloved by Gen Z fighting for prime time spots.</p><p>Even for the independent festival, <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/music/2026/05/28/tool-twenty-one-pilots-pierce-the-veil-alanis-morissette-morrissey-riot-fest-lineup" >this year’s lineup</a> offered an interesting assortment — which is saying something. This year, Riot Fest is the only place you’ll see <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/books/2026/03/10/patti-smith-memoir-bread-of-angels-jeff-tweedy-interview-chicago" >Patti Smith</a> and Insane Clown Posse in the same weekend. Friday's lineup featured punk legend Iggy Pop up against the night’s ultimate headliners, Twenty One Pilots. The latter’s Skeleton Clique fans were seen lining up as early as 5 a.m., many of them admittedly first-timers to the annual end-of-summer fest.</p><p>Organizers of Riot Fest prepared for this, with a <a class="Link" href="https://riotfest.org/first-timers-guide/" target="_blank" >“first-timers guide”</a> on its website, laying out the proverbial welcome mat for the newbies who were anticipated to make up a good portion of the estimated 50,000 attendees each day.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-430000" name="image-430000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8bd93a7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd2%2Fd4%2F1383c5894f638f979f4580d95b8a%2F186a7162.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/df1c14b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd2%2Fd4%2F1383c5894f638f979f4580d95b8a%2F186a7162.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9aacf5b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd2%2Fd4%2F1383c5894f638f979f4580d95b8a%2F186a7162.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="186A7162.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9aacf5b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd2%2Fd4%2F1383c5894f638f979f4580d95b8a%2F186a7162.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/121ce7a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd2%2Fd4%2F1383c5894f638f979f4580d95b8a%2F186a7162.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9aacf5b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd2%2Fd4%2F1383c5894f638f979f4580d95b8a%2F186a7162.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Riot Fest opened Friday in Douglass Park with some fans lining up at 5 a.m. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times <br></p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-bb0000" name="image-bb0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a4a5828/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2Fbc%2F29ad79e04476ab159d4f12c81ade%2F561a7505.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/06383e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2Fbc%2F29ad79e04476ab159d4f12c81ade%2F561a7505.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/297202e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2Fbc%2F29ad79e04476ab159d4f12c81ade%2F561a7505.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="561A7505.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/297202e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2Fbc%2F29ad79e04476ab159d4f12c81ade%2F561a7505.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c28f253/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2Fbc%2F29ad79e04476ab159d4f12c81ade%2F561a7505.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/297202e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/8192x4598+0+433/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb6%2Fbc%2F29ad79e04476ab159d4f12c81ade%2F561a7505.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Organizers prepared for a crowd of first-time fest goers this year with a special guide on its website. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times <br></p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Some of the big draws were expected to be Violet Grohl (daughter of Riot Fest veteran <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/9/16/23876333/foo-fighters-nostalgic-atmosphere-at-riot-fest-2023" >Dave Grohl</a>) who brings a well-informed mix of ‘90s alternative lore as well as the Sex Pistols, who could stage a reunion with original singer Johnny Rotten ahead of his band Public Image Ltd. appearing Saturday.</p><p>Planned, too, was a solid showing of Chicago punk elites on Day 1 with sets from Alkaline Trio and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/08/26/rise-against-chicago-punk-tour-album-ricochet-interview" >Rise Against.</a> Another local highlight will be beloved WGN weatherman Tom Skilling coming out of retirement to deliver live forecasts both Friday and Saturday night, ahead of some predicted heavy storms and rainfall the rest of the weekend.</p><p>With weather a potential factor in weekend activities, Riot Fest organizers encouraged fans to download the official Riot Fest app for up-to-the-minute updates. A spokesperson said the festival had identified the nearby Cinespace as a safe zone if the festival needs to evacuate due to weather. </p><p>Speaking to the crowd Friday as part of "live weather reports," former WGN weatherman Tom Skilling tried to keep spirits high for anyone who has seen actual forecasts for the weekend. “I am going to try to keep the rain away but I can’t control it. It’ll probably rain later tonight and tomorrow morning," Skilling said. "But who cares? We’ll deal with it. It’s Chicago.”</p><p></p><p>Read on for reviews of some of Friday's standout sets.</p><h3><b>VIOLET GROHL</b> </h3><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-dd0000" name="image-dd0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b96ac5e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2Fb3%2F1871b13749e38a4fb7d2a0dbd5b9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-06.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/35f2cea/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2Fb3%2F1871b13749e38a4fb7d2a0dbd5b9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-06.JPG 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b507352/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2Fb3%2F1871b13749e38a4fb7d2a0dbd5b9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-06.JPG" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="RIOTFESTDAY1PHOTOS_260919-06.JPG" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b507352/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2Fb3%2F1871b13749e38a4fb7d2a0dbd5b9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-06.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4151b10/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2Fb3%2F1871b13749e38a4fb7d2a0dbd5b9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-06.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b507352/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2Fb3%2F1871b13749e38a4fb7d2a0dbd5b9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-06.JPG" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>At just 20 years old, Violet Grohl, who is the daughter of Dave Grohl, brought a total ‘90s mood board to Riot Fest.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times<br></p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>It wouldn’t be shocking to find out that Grohl is a time traveler. At just 20 years old, the singer (and daughter of Dave Grohl) brought a total ‘90s mood board to Riot Fest, owning her place in a lineup that also features the Pixies and Alanis Morissette. </p><p>It was the same Thursday opening up for Sugar at Metro. With familiar thrifted vintage fashion, the era’s pencil-thin eyebrows hallmark and a well-informed musical palette that harks back to the days of Mazzy Star, PJ Harvey, the Breeders and Juliana Hatfield, Grohl’s recreation of the epoch is uncanny. And not just because of her famous last name. Her short 25-minute set was full of enough intrepid songwriting material from her debut album, “Be Sweet to Me,” to silence any nepo baby conversation. </p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-5a0000" name="image-5a0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6127ab6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4642x2605+0+245/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F19%2Fb5%2F53fd6c5a4321872e1c46bbc71ce9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-08.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2879d53/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4642x2605+0+245/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F19%2Fb5%2F53fd6c5a4321872e1c46bbc71ce9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-08.JPG 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d53fa49/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4642x2605+0+245/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F19%2Fb5%2F53fd6c5a4321872e1c46bbc71ce9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-08.JPG" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="RIOTFESTDAY1PHOTOS_260919-08.JPG" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d53fa49/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4642x2605+0+245/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F19%2Fb5%2F53fd6c5a4321872e1c46bbc71ce9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-08.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8d3e377/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4642x2605+0+245/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F19%2Fb5%2F53fd6c5a4321872e1c46bbc71ce9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-08.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d53fa49/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4642x2605+0+245/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F19%2Fb5%2F53fd6c5a4321872e1c46bbc71ce9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-08.JPG" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Violet Grohl, daughter of Riot Fest veteran Dave Grohl, was among the draws for younger audiences at this year’s Riot Fest, which runs through Sunday at Douglass Park. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times <br></p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>In particular, Grohl shone on the moody “Applefish” and through the sonic assaults of “Often Others” and the unreleased “Sun Is Blind.” The only reminders of her famous roots are her guitarist Salar Rajabnik, who is also a guitar tech for the Foo Fighters, and the way the young talent comes off like she’s still stuck in Foos backup singer mode with a demure stage presence. Give her some time though, and Violet could be the Grohl the rock world starts talking about.</p><h3><b>THE PARADOX</b></h3><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-7d0000" name="image-7d0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0fc26da/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Fa9%2Feacbf7ea47d38ae5bc9196ede4f9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-33-1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/db84d39/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Fa9%2Feacbf7ea47d38ae5bc9196ede4f9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-33-1.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/08b93e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Fa9%2Feacbf7ea47d38ae5bc9196ede4f9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-33-1.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="RIOTFESTDAY1PHOTOS_260919-33.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/08b93e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Fa9%2Feacbf7ea47d38ae5bc9196ede4f9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-33-1.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f10b8f8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Fa9%2Feacbf7ea47d38ae5bc9196ede4f9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-33-1.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/08b93e7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F87%2Fa9%2Feacbf7ea47d38ae5bc9196ede4f9%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-33-1.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Paradox perform Friday, the first day of Riot Fest in Douglass Park in North Lawndale.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Billie Joe Armstrong and blink-182 were right about the Paradox. The young Atlanta band has been the talk of tastemakers the last couple of years, recognized for carrying the pop punk torch for a new generation. Within just a few minutes at Riot Fest, it was easy to see why. The four-piece came packing infectious energy in punchy songs like early hit “Get the Message” and the brand-new number “That’s Not Fair” (played live for just the second time).</p><p>The youthful banter between singers/guitarists Eric Dangerfield and Christopher "Xelan" Bernard also took on a familiar Mark Hoppus-Tom DeLonge rhythm. In between songs, the two traded barbs about getting drunk and partying, enjoying Illinois’ recreational marijuana laws and introducing their own songs about being hot for teacher (“Ms. Lauren”). Other times, they were leading the crowd into a loud sing-along of Fall Out Boy’s “Chicago Is So Two Years Ago.”</p><p>It’s been a wild two years for the Paradox, too — since forming in 2024, Green Day personally invited the four-piece to open a stadium show and contribute to its “Nimrods” film while Travis Barker guested on “Bender.” Just a year ago, the group had an opening slot at Riot Fest, but by Friday, they had graduated to a later set that brought in a larger crowd.</p><p>Dangerfield recognized fans wearing Paradox T-shirts and one attendee who appeared to be the spitting image of Bernard. </p><p>“You can do all my interviews today!” Bernard quipped. </p><p>Not that he’d actually give away the opportunity to talk about the band’s biggest testimonial of all. Earlier this year, the Paradox became the first all-Black band to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s alternative airplay chart, a turning point for the genre that will continue to keep the band on everyone’s radar.</p><h3>ALKALINE TRIO</h3><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-ce0000" name="image-ce0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5698b0a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6b%2Fa9%2F2f2c78bd4c9387914f0cc2781ffa%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-71.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/30aede8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6b%2Fa9%2F2f2c78bd4c9387914f0cc2781ffa%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-71.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a691f26/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6b%2Fa9%2F2f2c78bd4c9387914f0cc2781ffa%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-71.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="RIOTFESTDAY1PHOTOS_260919-71.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a691f26/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6b%2Fa9%2F2f2c78bd4c9387914f0cc2781ffa%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-71.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/49df7b4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6b%2Fa9%2F2f2c78bd4c9387914f0cc2781ffa%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-71.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a691f26/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F6b%2Fa9%2F2f2c78bd4c9387914f0cc2781ffa%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-71.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Alkaline Trio performs on the Roots stage Friday, the first day of Riot Fest in Douglass Park in North Lawndale.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Alkaline Trio is getting close to GWAR’s record for the number of times the group has played Riot Fest (including 2025). But somehow Chicago’s venerable punk rockers always make it feel like the first time. </p><p>“This is the best time I’ve had in a very long time,” said bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano before the trio launched into staple song “Stupid Kid.” Matt Skiba agreed. “That makes three of us,” the singer/guitarist added, looping drummer Tosh Peterson into the conversation.</p><p>The crowd felt it, too. As the band riled up with songs like “We’ve Had Enough,” a flurry of people dressed as bananas and wizards crowd-surfed their way toward the stage with the same endless energy as the three guys on stage.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-a60000" name="image-a60000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c7d097f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F53%2Faa%2F2debc66646fab391ee18d57d1396%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-63.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2c5eaaf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F53%2Faa%2F2debc66646fab391ee18d57d1396%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-63.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e9b952/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F53%2Faa%2F2debc66646fab391ee18d57d1396%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-63.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="RIOTFESTDAY1PHOTOS_260919-63.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e9b952/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F53%2Faa%2F2debc66646fab391ee18d57d1396%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-63.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/372f6bb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F53%2Faa%2F2debc66646fab391ee18d57d1396%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-63.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e9b952/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F53%2Faa%2F2debc66646fab391ee18d57d1396%2Friotfestday1photos-260919-63.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Alkaline Trio performs on the Roots stage Friday, the first day of Riot Fest in Douglass Park in North Lawndale.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Formed in 1996, Alkaline Trio has come a long way from the Fireside Bowl nights the group used to play (a time immortalized on a split-single just released this week with local brethren Rise Against). But the trio has never forgotten its roots, even as Skiba was brought into the national fold with his gig in blink-182 from 2015 to 2022.</p><p>On Friday, the front man shouted out Travis Barker as Alkaline Trio played “Oblivion,” a song that the drummer produced. Skiba also teased a forthcoming album — one that Barker apparently had his hands on — that’s currently being mixed. But there was also equal attention given to their hometown. “This song’s for Chicago!” Skiba declared, introducing 2005’s “Mercy Me,” which namedrops the city. </p><p>The band dug even further back into the archive with 2000’s “Snake Oil Tanker,” a song they haven’t played much in the last two decades that hearkens back to a time Alkaline Trio was just getting its footing. The cross-career set was as nostalgic as they come, but it was no swan song. </p><p>“The good news is we’ll be back,” Skiba assured.</p><p>Of course they will.</p><p><i>This story will be updated.</i></p>

<p>West Suburban Medical Center and Weiss Memorial Hospital are expected to be sold to Insight Health Systems, bringing a monthslong, bitter legal fight over the safety-net hospitals to an end.</p><p>The hospitals’ landlord, Rathnakar Reddy Patlola, made a late-night deal Wednesday to buy Resilience Healthcare CEO Manoj Prasad's stake in the hospitals. Insight will then buy the hospitals from Patlola.</p><p>Prasad did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a statement, Patlola celebrated the "formal and finalized settlement" and said he expects it will lead to the "completed sale" of the hospitals to Insight. He "looks forward" to the two hospitals reopening. </p><p>Atif Bawahab, an executive at Insight Health Systems and CEO of Insight Hospital in Chicago, said in a statement the company would assess both hospitals to "determine the appropriate path forward." He also emphasized that the agreement was the start of a "long, phased process."</p><p>"There are real hurdles ahead — restoring licenses and certifications, rebuilding systems and staffing, meeting regulatory requirements, and earning back the confidence of patients and providers — and none of that happens overnight," Bawahab said.</p><p>No specific dollar amounts for either sale were immediately made public. It was also not clear how — or if — the deal would reopen either hospital.</p><h3>An eleventh-hour deal</h3><p>Last Friday, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Stanton <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/09/11/west-suburban-weiss-memorial-hospitals-receivership-legal-battle" target="_blank" ><u>decided to put a receiver</u></a> in charge of the hospitals after presiding over months of bickering in his courtroom between the lawyers representing the business partners-turned-foes.</p><p>The legal battle centered around Prasad's decision to shut down West Suburban Medical Center in March. Patlola then sued him for control of the Oak Park hospital and Uptown's Weiss Memorial Hospital, which closed in August 2025 and recently lost its state hospital license.</p><p>Stanton originally said a receiver would be announced Tuesday. Instead, Stanton and lawyers met behind closed doors Tuesday and Wednesday, while advocates and reporters waited for hours in his courtroom.</p><p>Few details about the late-night deal were shared when Stanton and the lawyers returned to the courtroom at around 10:30 p.m., said Rev. Robin Hood, a West Side advocate who waited for hours on the 25th floor of the Daley Center Wednesday night. </p><p>"Was this strenuous? Yeah. Was we tired? Yes. But guess what? When you fighting a good fight to help save people's lives, you just keep fighting it," Hood told reporters Thursday at Greater Rock Missionary Baptist Church in West Garfield Park.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-2b0000" name="image-2b0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/991f6d8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F73%2Fabfca2c0422bbc18ee44dbb76445%2Fwestsubrally-260729-8-jpeg.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a63da52/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F73%2Fabfca2c0422bbc18ee44dbb76445%2Fwestsubrally-260729-8-jpeg.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4aa6f53/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F73%2Fabfca2c0422bbc18ee44dbb76445%2Fwestsubrally-260729-8-jpeg.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Rev. Robin Hood speaks at a rally " srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4aa6f53/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F73%2Fabfca2c0422bbc18ee44dbb76445%2Fwestsubrally-260729-8-jpeg.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/92c4b8d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F73%2Fabfca2c0422bbc18ee44dbb76445%2Fwestsubrally-260729-8-jpeg.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4aa6f53/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7008x3933+0+369/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F79%2F73%2Fabfca2c0422bbc18ee44dbb76445%2Fwestsubrally-260729-8-jpeg.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Rev. Robin Hood speaks at a rally in Daley Plaza for reopening West Suburban Medical Center and Weiss Memorial Hospital earlier this summer. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Pat Nabong/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>From Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday night, Hood and Ieloit Jackson, another West Side advocate for reopening the hospital, waited 11 and a half hours in Stanton's courtroom. At one point, he said, the lights were turned off. </p><p>"It was so disturbing that [Stanton] said that this is a private matter, so that's why they've been in chambers so long. But it's a public issue," Jackson said. "It's the public that's affected."</p><p>Despite the delay, Jackson and Hood celebrated the result and called it a "small victory."</p><p>Dawn Anderson, who worked in West Suburban's medical record department for 32 years until she was laid off in May, said she was thankful Prasad was out.</p><p>"I'm praying for a change. I'm praying for transparency," Anderson said. "There was so much taken away from not only patients but the employees. ... This was a traumatic experience for everyone." </p><h3>A long road for Insight</h3><p>Rev. Henry Barlow, an Insight board member and the pastor of the Morning Star Baptist Church, said at Thursday's news conference he hopes the hospitals can be reopened "as soon as possible." But he said it's a long road ahead. He estimated it will take at least four months to get West Suburban back open. Weiss will take even longer he said, without saying a time frame. </p><p>"This was the easy part. The hard part is about to start," Barlow said. </p><p>But not everyone from the hospital has faith in Insight. Vishnu Chundi, an infectious disease doctor who spent more than 15 years at West Suburban, said he doesn't trust the health system. </p><p>“We’ve been through so many owners,” Chundi said. “It's just we have fatigue. … Unless they give concrete steps and they're willing to sign on and talk to the physicians and the people that provide service, how many times are you going to get slapped in the face over and over again until you understand the game that it’s basically been asset stripping and taking things away from the community?”</p><p>Patlola’s legal team <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/08/04/ownership-change-west-suburban-weiss-potential-settlement" target="_blank" ><u>had been pushing for months</u></a> to enforce a settlement agreement that includes selling the hospitals for $1 to Insight Health Systems. Prasad, who would have to step down as CEO and take on a temporary consulting position, had resisted that deal.</p><p>Insight runs Insight Hospital and Medical Center, formerly Mercy Hospital. The company bought the Bronzeville hospital for $1 in 2021, <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/environment-public-health/2021/10/25/inside-the-fight-to-save-chicagos-historic-mercy-hospital" target="_blank" ><u>preventing it from closing</u></a>.</p><p>But Insight appears to have <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/health/2026/08/08/insight-health-systems-west-suburban-medical-center-weiss-memorial-hospital" target="_blank" ><u>its own financial troubles</u></a>, raising questions about how it can afford to take on two more hospitals. Insight Hospital has consistently lost money since buying Mercy. In 2024, the hospital lost nearly $30 million, the most recent records show.</p><p>Insight Hospital has received about $50 million in advances from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to help keep the doors open since it bought Mercy. Last month, a HFS spokesperson said Insight had paid back just over $1 million so far, and that the department “has no plans to provide additional support at this time.”</p><p>Insight, West Suburban and Weiss are all safety-net hospitals, which are often the fabric of low-income and immigrant communities. They typically don’t make much money and struggle to make ends meet.</p>

<p><i>Good afternoon! It’s Friday, and today I learned electronic dance music duo </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/music/2026/09/18/northbrook-edm-sister-duo-krewella-new-album-peak-sound-bar-chicago" target="_blank" ><i><u>Krewella</u></i></a><i> has Chicago-area ties. Here’s what else you need to know today.</i></p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/09/18/illinois-restaurant-association-toia-uneven-enforcement-sidewalk-cafe-lights-rule" target="_blank" ><b><u>1. The head of the Illinois Restaurant Association called out uneven enforcement of the city’s sidewalk cafe lights rule</u></b></a></p><p>Association President Sam Toia said punishing some owners for strings of sparkling lights in outdoor dining areas is unfair. The comments came after the city’s crackdown on one Roscoe Village eatery — even as scores of other restaurants hang them over sidewalks and parkways.</p><p>Lush Wine & Spirits was ordered in March to remove its decorative white lights after an inspector from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said they received a complaint. Until then, Lush owner Mitch Einhorn said he had never heard of any law against hanging lights, my colleagues Fran Spielman and Stephanie Zimmermann report.</p><p>This summer, the Chicago Sun-Times spotted at least 40 eateries with outdoor lights on about 12 blocks along Lincoln Avenue and West Fulton Market and Randolph streets.</p><p>Spokespersons for the Chicago Department of Buildings and the Department of Transportation said the law banning lights is Chapter 10-29 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, which governs “wires, pipes, cables and conduits on, under or over public property” — with public property in this case being city sidewalks and parkways.</p><p>But the ordinance seems to allow for some wiggle room, saying wires or cables aren’t allowed “without first having obtained a permit issued by the department of transportation after consultation with the office of emergency management and communications.” Einhorn said he asked BACP how to apply for a permit to make his lights legal and was told there is no application process. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/09/18/illinois-restaurant-association-toia-uneven-enforcement-sidewalk-cafe-lights-rule" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/17/should-chicago-close-more-schools-candidates-for-school-board-president-diverge-on-key-issue" target="_blank" ><b><u>2. Candidates for school board president diverge on whether Chicago should close more schools</u></b></a></p><p>Closing public schools in Chicago became a political hot potato after former Mayor Rahm Emanuel shuttered 50 elementary schools at once in 2013, creating upheaval in communities and leaving neighborhoods with decaying empty buildings. But as student enrollment continues to drop, a growing chorus says it’s time to do another round.</p><p>As WBEZ’s Sarah Karp writes, a moratorium on school closings will lift in January, just as the city’s first fully elected school board is sworn into office. At a forum hosted by WTTW earlier this week, the four board president candidates laid out differing views on how they would approach the issue.</p><p>Hilario Dominguez, a former political director for the Chicago Teachers Union, is the only candidate pledging not to support school closings. Former principal Jessica Biggs and prominent defense attorney Victor Henderson said they would consider closing schools — but only after hearing from affected communities.</p><p>Sendhil Revuluri, a former Chicago board member and math teacher, made the case for closing underenrolled high schools in particular because they typically can’t support a wide array of classes and programs.</p><p>Chicago Public Schools only closed one small high school in 2013, mostly because closing high schools creates safety concerns. The school district has lost about a quarter of its enrollment in the last decade, and more than a dozen high schools are at 20% or less of their building’s student capacity. As of earlier this year, Chicago Public Schools data showed one-third of all district-run schools were at less than half their capacity. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/17/should-chicago-close-more-schools-candidates-for-school-board-president-diverge-on-key-issue" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/environment/2026/09/18/metropolitan-water-reclamation-district-artificial-intelligence-hawthorne-race-course-stickney-cicero" target="_blank" ><b><u>3. Hatred for data centers is sky-high, but the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District sees dollar signs</u></b></a></p><p>As my colleague Brett Chase reports, treated sewer water is not suitable for drinking. However, district officials have for years explored whether it could be sold to industrial users, many of which use fresh Lake Michigan water. Earlier this year, district officials discussed possibly locating a data center next to one of its water treatment plants, according to internal emails reviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times.</p><p>Though no deals with data centers are in the works, MWRD is open to serving them. The agency owns thousands of acres of riverfront land that is leased to industrial companies and has explored building pipes that would pump water directly to businesses.</p><p>“We see the potential for industrial reuse of our high-quality reclaimed water to protect our fresh drinking water supply and potentially generate additional revenue,” the district said in a separate statement.</p><p>That plan could eliminate the need to use fresh Lake Michigan water to cool the massive structures, which can exceed 1 million square feet. Drinking water depletion is a major concern related to these high-tech facilities, which also use enormous amounts of energy. There are more than 200 data centers in the Chicago area. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/environment/2026/09/18/metropolitan-water-reclamation-district-artificial-intelligence-hawthorne-race-course-stickney-cicero" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/classical-music/2026/09/18/liliom-joffrey-ballet-michel-legrand-score-john-neumeier-dance-music-orchestra-jazz" target="_blank" ><b><u>4. In ‘Liliom,’ making its Chicago premiere at the Joffrey Ballet, the soundtrack is as ambitious as the steps</u></b></a></p><p>As WBEZ contributor Graham Meyer writes, “Liliom” isn’t an easy ballet. The dance steps are technically demanding, with the role of Liliom, played opening night by José Pablo Castro Cuevas, required onstage for nearly the entire run time. Then there is the music, which draws more attention to itself than many ballet scores, and not just because the big band is positioned right smack in the audience’s line of sight.</p><p>It’s assertive, showing lots of accents and timbres that jump out of the musical texture — the orchestra has four percussionists, in addition to the drum kit in the big band. It’s mercurial, shifting tempos and swing as the two ensembles play in alternation and together. And it’s stylistically eclectic, the jazz weaving its way in and out of the classical-tradition music, which itself careens from lush strings to circusy waltzes to accordion-led French street music. There’s nothing else quite like it in the ballet canon.</p><p>For the Joffrey’s production this fall, the work pairs the Lyric Opera Orchestra with Chicago jazz staple Rob Parton Big Band to perform the Michel Legrand score. (If listeners know one thing about Legrand, it’s his work on film scores. His through-composition of the 1964 movie “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” made for an ambitious experiment beloved by cinephiles. He won Academy Awards for his music for “Summer of ’42,” “Yentl” and a song from the original “The Thomas Crown Affair.”) [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/classical-music/2026/09/18/liliom-joffrey-ballet-michel-legrand-score-john-neumeier-dance-music-orchestra-jazz" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/theater-stages/2026/09/18/a-trapeze-artist-views-her-life-and-death-from-an-unexpected-vantage-point-the-ground" target="_blank" ><b><u>5. A trapeze artist views her life — and death — from an unexpected vantage point: the ground</u></b></a></p><p>Shana Carroll’s “The Attic: Things I’ve Seen While Lying on My Back” premiered this week at the Goodman Theater.</p><p>The audience witnesses a memoir set free from its binding in a mesmerizing display of acrobatic dance, music and stage projections, my colleague Stefano Esposito writes. Bodies — belonging to the Montreal-based circus-theater collective The 7 Fingers, which Carroll co-founded — twirl, leap, fly and occasionally writhe across the stage. She chose French composer Erik Satie’s haunting piano piece Gnossienne No. 1 as a recurring theme, long a favorite of hers and music that feels like someone tiptoeing around the edge of a great sadness.</p><p>Carroll, who has active metastatic breast cancer, said she hoped the very personal would reveal the universal.</p><p>“I can tell stories about my life, but what you want is that it’s actually connecting people to certain themes or understandings or realizations, or just connecting to humanity in general in a lifetime,” she said. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/theater-stages/2026/09/18/a-trapeze-artist-views-her-life-and-death-from-an-unexpected-vantage-point-the-ground" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><b>Here’s what else is happening</b></p><ul class="rte2-style-ul" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" id="rte-ba9bdc10-b39d-11f1-9a9a-03d4edc34377"><li>Merriam-Webster added 1,400 new words to its online dictionary. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/16/us/merriam-webster-new-words-looksmaxxing-yacht-rock.html?unlocked_article_code=1.CFE.vJUP.Vuc2E9OwuqAS&smid=url-share" target="_blank" ><u>New York Times</u></a>]</li><li>A beluga whale at a Spanish aquarium died today, bringing to three the total number of belugas that have died since being shipped out of Marineland Canada this summer — including two at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/09/18/3rd-beluga-dies-marineland-canada-shedd-aquarium" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</li><li>The oldest existing house in Chicago could close if the Norwood Park Historical Society doesn’t raise enough funds. [<a class="Link" href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/09/18/chicagos-oldest-house-faces-uncertain-future-as-historical-society-funds-dry-up/" target="_blank" ><u>Block Club Chicago</u></a>]</li><li>Riot Fest starts today at Douglass Park. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicagoreader.com/music/concert-preview/riot-fest-douglass-park/" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Reader</u></a>]</li></ul><p><b>Oh, and one more thing …</b></p><p>A new documentary captures the discipline, creativity and heart behind the Joffrey Ballet’s trailblazing “Winning Works” program for emerging artists historically excluded from ballet, Erica Thompson reports for the Chicago Sun-Times.</p><p>“Joffrey Ballet: The Next Movement” premieres at 8 p.m. tonight on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS app. The film was produced by Chicago-based Kartemquin Films and directed by South Sider Cam Be. It follows five choreographers over two weeks as they prepare new works featuring students from Joffrey’s Grainger Academy.</p><p>The piece not only highlights the intensity of staging performances but also the personal stories of the BIPOC artists, many of whom paved their way in an art form that has traditionally mostly featured white dancers and choreographers.</p><p>“I want you to understand the level of dedication it takes and the work these choreographers went through to get to the spaces they’re in,” Be said. “But also, I want you to understand that they’re just human beings and that they have life experiences and trauma that they’ve had to deal with, and they continue to push through.” [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/dance/2026/09/17/joffrey-ballet-pbs-documentary-winning-works-competition-dance-film" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><b>Tell me something good …</b></p><p>Thanks for sharing your favorite dessert recipes this week! I hope many of you found a new dish to make soon.</p>

<p>Lying motionless inside a CT scanner searching for signs of cancer, Shana Carroll’s brain began to fidget.</p><p>“I’ve had so many procedures where you’re inside machines, and you just feel like: What science fiction weird thing is going on here?” said Carroll, a writer, director and choreographer.</p><p>What if, the former trapeze artist thought, a show could be fashioned, knitted together, from the moments in life when a person is lying flat and looking up at the world?</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-600000" name="image-600000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f36749c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7681x4311+0+324/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F30%2Fbc%2F47597d034b06acaee69b99881ce3%2Fshana-carroll-attic-rehearsal-by-todd-rosenberg.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b0022d2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7681x4311+0+324/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F30%2Fbc%2F47597d034b06acaee69b99881ce3%2Fshana-carroll-attic-rehearsal-by-todd-rosenberg.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a876d14/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7681x4311+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F30%2Fbc%2F47597d034b06acaee69b99881ce3%2Fshana-carroll-attic-rehearsal-by-todd-rosenberg.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Shana Carroll ATTIC Rehearsal (by Todd Rosenberg).jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a876d14/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7681x4311+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F30%2Fbc%2F47597d034b06acaee69b99881ce3%2Fshana-carroll-attic-rehearsal-by-todd-rosenberg.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/95280d7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7681x4311+0+324/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F30%2Fbc%2F47597d034b06acaee69b99881ce3%2Fshana-carroll-attic-rehearsal-by-todd-rosenberg.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a876d14/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7681x4311+0+324/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F30%2Fbc%2F47597d034b06acaee69b99881ce3%2Fshana-carroll-attic-rehearsal-by-todd-rosenberg.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Shana Carroll, a writer, director and choreographer, in rehearsal for “The Attic: Things I’ve Seen While Lying on My Back,” which opened September 15, 2026 at The Goodman Theatre.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Todd Rosenberg</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>And so, in the cold sterility of that hospital room about two years ago, the idea for “The Attic: Things I’ve Seen While Lying on My Back” was born. The show is now playing at The Goodman Theatre.</p><p>What the audience witnesses in Carroll’s show is memoir set free from its binding in a mesmerizing display of acrobatic dance, music and stage projections. Bodies — belonging to the Montreal-based circus-theater collective The 7 Fingers, which Carroll co-founded — twirl, leap, fly and occasionally writhe across the stage. Carroll chose French composer Erik Satie’s haunting piano piece Gnossienne No. 1 as a recurring theme, long a favorite of hers and music that feels like someone tiptoeing around the edge of a great sadness.</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-3c0000" name="module-3c0000"></a> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><b>Where:</b> Goodman Theatre, 170. N. Dearborn St.<br><b>When:</b> Through Oct. 4 <br><b>Tickets</b>: From $34<br><b>Info:</b> <a class="Link" href="https://www.goodmantheatre.org/show/the-attic/" target="_blank" >goodmantheatre.org</a><br><br></div> </div><p>“It was a [piece] I listened to a lot in my attic, so I wanted it to be a touchstone through the show,” Carroll said.</p><p>Carroll, who has active metastatic breast cancer, said she hoped the very personal would reveal the universal.</p><p>“I can tell stories about my life, but what you want is that it’s actually connecting people to certain themes or understandings or realizations or just connecting to humanity in general in a lifetime,” Carroll said.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-810000" name="image-810000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6e0a9d7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4493x2522+0+189/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb5%2F25%2F867d241144d0aa306fe06ca14788%2F1-the-attic-production-photos.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/64ee3f3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4493x2522+0+189/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb5%2F25%2F867d241144d0aa306fe06ca14788%2F1-the-attic-production-photos.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6e580fa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4493x2522+0+189/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb5%2F25%2F867d241144d0aa306fe06ca14788%2F1-the-attic-production-photos.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="1_The Attic Production Photos.jpg" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6e580fa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4493x2522+0+189/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb5%2F25%2F867d241144d0aa306fe06ca14788%2F1-the-attic-production-photos.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1a3fcb1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4493x2522+0+189/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb5%2F25%2F867d241144d0aa306fe06ca14788%2F1-the-attic-production-photos.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6e580fa/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4493x2522+0+189/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb5%2F25%2F867d241144d0aa306fe06ca14788%2F1-the-attic-production-photos.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>From left: Eduardo De Azevedo Grillo, Lucy Tan, Nancy Luna and Fran Alvarez perform in “The Attic: Things I’ve Seen While Lying On My Back,” at the The Goodman Theatre, September 5 – October 4, 2026.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Todd Rosenberg</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Carroll, a self-described theater kid who grew up in Berkeley, Calif., attended Montreal’s National Circus School, launching a 20-year acrobatic career. She’s been a Cirque du Soleil soloist and has been nominated for a Tony award for her choreography and circus design on “Water for Elephants,” the 2024 Broadway musical based on Sara Gruen’s 2006 best-selling novel of the same name.</p><p>As someone who spent decades in the circus, Carroll has led a life worthy of memoir, but she said she consciously avoided weaving in the more sensational moments from her past.</p><p>Her father, Jon Carroll, was a writer and editor who moved the family from the West Coast to Chicago for a stint so he could work for Hugh Hefner. “I spent the night at the Playboy mansion when I was 2 years old,” she said.</p><p>So, instead of one-of-a-kind, oddball experiences, we watch Tyler Meredith, the veteran Chicago actress playing Carroll, narrate from beneath the beams of her childhood attic, the place of the show’s title. We see her marvel at dust motes glittering in the air, the awkwardness of a middle-school dance. We see her giving birth, even considering her own death. </p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-880000" name="image-880000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f671080/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6885x3864+0+363/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F83%2F32fe2f354cdaaf92c28c5ada68cd%2F10-the-attic-production-photos.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b0fe46d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6885x3864+0+363/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F83%2F32fe2f354cdaaf92c28c5ada68cd%2F10-the-attic-production-photos.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cf26aca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6885x3864+0+363/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F83%2F32fe2f354cdaaf92c28c5ada68cd%2F10-the-attic-production-photos.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The Attic Dress Rehearsal" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cf26aca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6885x3864+0+363/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F83%2F32fe2f354cdaaf92c28c5ada68cd%2F10-the-attic-production-photos.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0369f32/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6885x3864+0+363/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F83%2F32fe2f354cdaaf92c28c5ada68cd%2F10-the-attic-production-photos.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cf26aca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6885x3864+0+363/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F05%2F83%2F32fe2f354cdaaf92c28c5ada68cd%2F10-the-attic-production-photos.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Tyler Meredith (center) stars in “The Attic: Things I’ve Seen While Lying On My Back.”</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Todd Rosenberg Photography</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Her experiences are amplified through nine acrobats’ extraordinary feats of grace, physical strength and dexterity: three-story human towers on the move, bodies flung in the air and (seemingly) effortlessly caught. In one sequence that made the audience gasp, acrobat Melvin Diggs plummets head-first down a 20-foot steel pole, stopping inches from the stage floor.</p><p>One of the show’s most innovative and memorable scenes is toward the end, when Carroll’s character is in a hospital bed that gently rises from the horizontal to the vertical. Hands poke through the mattress from below, grabbing at Meredith’s writhing body. It’s less B-movie horror than a clever way to illustrate her ambivalence toward hospitals.</p><p>“When you’re alone in a hospital bed, it both feels like they won’t stop fussing with me — and the creepiness of it — but it also feels like you have accompaniment and comfort even though you’re so alone,” Carroll said.</p><p>In the show, the bed then swings, trapeze-like, high above the stage with Meredith lying still on it.</p><p>Though Carroll now directs others to fly through the air, she said she is able to use the lessons of a life on the trapeze in her cancer battle.</p><p>“There is a lot of pain," she said. "You burn your skin. You get bruises everywhere."</p><p>And there are similarities between the fear she faced during every performance and the fear of confronting her mortality.</p><p>“With cancer, you don’t choose it, but it feels familiar: ‘Oh, I’ve been here, I know how to navigate fear,’ ” she said. “You feel like you’ve confronted death before.”</p>

<p><i>Good afternoon! It’s Thursday, and my friends are outraged I’ve been drinking pumpkin spice coffee creamer for two weeks now. Here’s what you need to know today.</i></p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/health-medicine/2026/09/17/illinois-residents-who-are-terminally-ill-can-now-end-their-lives-medical-aid-in-dying" target="_blank" ><b><u>1. Illinois residents who are terminally ill can now end their lives. Here’s how it works</u></b></a></p><p>Illinoisans with fewer than six months to live can now request a prescription for medication to end their lives, joining 12 other states and Washington, D.C., in legalizing medical aid in dying. As WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch reports, the measure has become a lightning rod for some religious and disability rights groups that worry it could lead to abuse. Despite court challenges, the law still stands.</p><p>Using a new state form, a patient makes a written request to their doctor to get a prescription for medication that would end their life. They must also make two verbal requests at least five days apart, according to the state. Patients could hand their doctor a letter and make their first verbal request at the same time. A second physician must approve the request.</p><p>Patients must be able to swallow medication, typically a mixture of several drugs specially prepared into a powder that can be mixed into water or juice, on their own or through a feeding tube. Insurers are not required to cover the medicine, which can cost as much as $1,000 out of pocket.</p><p>People largely have to navigate finding a participating medical provider on their own, as there is no directory of doctors or pharmacies in Illinois offering medical aid in dying. Doctors are not required to participate, but they must help patients get a referral to a physician who would say yes. (Doctors are shielded from prosecution whether they participate or refuse to).</p><p>A lack of guidance from the state, which has had about nine months to prepare for the law to take effect, frustrates people who work with dying patients. Some in hospice care are already asking about the new law, and there’s no physician or pharmacy to refer them to, said Sara Dado, executive director of the Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/health-medicine/2026/09/17/illinois-residents-who-are-terminally-ill-can-now-end-their-lives-medical-aid-in-dying" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/bearing-the-blitz/2026/09/17/operation-midway-blitz-ice-arrests-little-village-fears-of-displacement-gentrification" target="_blank" ><b><u>2. A year after Midway Blitz, some vow to stay in Little Village, while others worry they can’t afford to</u></b></a></p><p>Little Village faced displacement and gentrification pressures long before Operation Midway Blitz, my colleague Alma Campos reports. The area is part of South Lawndale, where nearly half of renters spent more than 30% of their income on housing in 2024. The neighborhood’s proximity to Downtown and rapidly gentrifying Pilsen also fueled concerns that development could push out longtime residents and businesses.</p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic brought another period of upheaval, forcing some businesses to close and leaving others struggling.</p><p>Then came President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. During the height of Operation Midway Blitz, federal immigration agents detained 3,841 people, according to federal data analyzed by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times. Little Village became one of the most visible targets. Federal agents made arrests in the neighborhood on the first full day of Midway Blitz and returned repeatedly in the following months.</p><p>On Oct. 22 and 23 and again on Nov. 8, large groups of federal agents descended on Little Village, carrying out arrests and confronting residents and protesters. The Illinois Accountability Commission later singled out those three days for an investigation of what it described as an occupation of the neighborhood.</p><p>Beyond arrests, fear of immigration agents kept people home. Shops and restaurants emptied, battering Little Village’s commercial corridors. Many people continue to stay home, and some business owners are spending money accumulated over generations to remain open. Some question whether they can afford to stay. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/bearing-the-blitz/2026/09/17/operation-midway-blitz-ice-arrests-little-village-fears-of-displacement-gentrification" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/17/teaach-act-faq-illinois-aapi-asian-american-history-public-schools" target="_blank" ><b><u>3. A law requires Illinois schools to teach Asian American history. Is it happening?</u></b></a></p><p>In 2021, Illinois passed a law requiring every public elementary and high school to teach a unit of Asian American and Pacific Islander history. Five years later, many schools throughout the state have yet to fully implement the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act and a standardized statewide curriculum still hasn’t been established, WBEZ’s Minju Park reports.</p><p>“Roughly 25% of teachers and students in the state of Illinois have had some participation with the Asian American curricular resources that have been made available since the bill passed,” said state Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, a sponsor of the bill. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/17/teaach-act-faq-illinois-aapi-asian-american-history-public-schools" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p>The Illinois State Board of Education said in a statement that individual school districts determine how schools meet the requirements of the TEAACH Act within their local curriculum. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/wbez-news/2026/09/17/are-schools-meaningfully-teaching-aapi-history" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p>Education researchers report students who participate in ethnic studies are more academically engaged, develop a stronger sense of personal empowerment, perform better academically and graduate at higher rates. They also found ethnic studies curricula that teach directly about racism produce higher levels of critical thinking. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/wbez-news/2026/09/17/why-is-it-important-to-teach-aapi-history" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/housing/2026/09/16/evanston-harley-clarke-mansion-celadon-community-hub" target="_blank" ><b><u>4. Evanston’s Harley Clarke Mansion could soon become a community hub</u></b></a></p><p>The Evanston Historic Preservation Commission approved Celadon Partners’ plans to turn the 100-year-old lakefront landmark into an event space with amenities, including a coffee shop and restaurant, Abby Miller reports for the Chicago Sun-Times.</p><p>About two years ago, Celadon responded to Evanston’s Request for Proposals for the mansion with an adaptive reuse project that would include a boutique hotel. Some of the initial proposal, including the hotel, have been axed due to market conditions, but Celadon CEO Scott Henry said the team remains committed to keeping the mansion a public asset while honoring its history.</p><p>The event space will be open for public uses when it isn’t booked, such as fitness classes and co-working spaces. In addition to the restaurant and coffee shop, an ice cream parlor operated by an Evanston business is planned. Meanwhile, the mansion’s billiards room will become a jazz club-style speakeasy, Henry said. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/housing/2026/09/16/evanston-harley-clarke-mansion-celadon-community-hub" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/movies-tv/2026/09/17/chicago-international-film-festival-2026-lineup-carrie-coon-marlon-wayans" target="_blank" ><b><u>5. Carrie Coon and Marlon Wayans will appear at the Chicago International Film Festival</u></b></a></p><p>About 45,000 cinephiles will descend on local theaters next month for the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival, which released its full lineup of 113 feature films and 57 shorts yesterday, my colleague Erica Thompson reports.</p><p>The festival opens Oct. 14 with a screening of Jordan Firstman’s acclaimed debut feature film, “Club Kid” (A24). It will close Oct. 25 with Tony Gilroy’s “Behemoth!” (Searchlight Pictures), starring Pedro Pascal and a “brilliantly unhinged” Olivia Wilde, according to Mimi Plauché, the event’s artistic director.</p><p>There will be appearances by director Tim Blake Nelson, actor and Illinois native Bob Odenkirk, and comedian and actor Marlon Wayans, who will receive a Career Achievement Award and discuss his work. Actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor will be given the Tour de Force Award at the world premiere of “Liz Here Now,” and actress Carrie Coon will pick up the Artistic Achievement Award at the screening of her new film, “The Liberation.”</p><p>Veterans and up-and-comers from more than 60 countries directed the slate of films. Audiences can watch everything from Oscar contenders (“Wild Horse Nine”) and timely documentaries (the unsanctioned “Musk” about Elon Musk) to gripping foreign dramas (“Fatherland” and “Sad Girlz”).</p><p>The fest will also program Chicago stories. Among the local tales are “No Hands: The Wild Ride of the Schwinn Bicycle Company” and the “Ever After” profile of Chef Curtis Duffy. “Mouse,” a film by Chicago-based directors Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, is featured in the “centerpiece” presentation. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/movies-tv/2026/09/17/chicago-international-film-festival-2026-lineup-carrie-coon-marlon-wayans" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><b>Here’s what else is happening</b></p><ul class="rte2-style-ul" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" id="rte-7449d550-b2d5-11f1-ab24-ab28ee6ae067"><li>Five public universities in Illinois use Flock surveillance cameras on campus, records show. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/09/17/five-public-universities-in-illinois-use-controversial-flock-cameras-to-surveil-campus" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</li><li>Pope Leo XIV appointed a new bishop of the Diocese of Joliet. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/religion/2026/09/17/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-new-bishop-of-the-diocese-of-joliet" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</li><li>Sleep Out Chicago will allow participants to sleep in Soldier Field this November to raise money for homeless youth. [<a class="Link" href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/09/17/you-can-spend-the-night-at-soldier-field-to-raise-money-for-homeless-youth/" target="_blank" ><u>Block Club Chicago</u></a>]</li><li>An immersive live show starring Oprah Winfrey is coming to the Sphere in Las Vegas. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/movies-tv/2026/09/17/oprah-winfrey-aha-immersive-live-show-sphere-in-las-vegas-2027" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</li></ul><p><b>Oh, and one more thing …</b></p><p>This fall sees some scarcity creeping back into the classical sphere, WBEZ contributor Graham Meyer reports.</p><p>Haymarket Opera Company’s September production of Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo”: sold out. Yo-Yo Ma’s one-night-only gig at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 11: also no dice. Music of the Baroque’s Mozart concert in Skokie, the first two recitals in Northwestern’s Skyline Piano Series: nope and double nope. Get your calendars out — the time to book is now.</p><p>Be on the lookout for Klaus Mäkelä’s fall residency at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the return of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” to the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Third Coast Percussion’s collaboration with Gary, Indiana-based electronic music artist Jlin.</p><p>You can see the full list of performances to look forward to in the link. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/things-to-do/2026/09/17/classical-music-performances-chicago-tickets-concerts" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><b>Tell me something good …</b></p><p>What’s a dessert recipe you recently tried for the first time and loved?</p><p>Emily writes:</p><p>“I recently tried <a class="Link" href="https://curlygirlkitchen.com/brownie-shortbread-bars-ganache/#recipe" target="_blank" ><u>this recipe</u></a> for layered shortbread brownies that my internet friend has been talking about for months, and it was FABULOUS. No modifications needed for altitude in this case, and it tasted amazing with some extra sea salt on top. Next time I’ll add some dulce de leche!”</p><p>Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.</p>

<p>Closing public schools in Chicago became a political hot potato after former Mayor Rahm Emanuel shuttered 50 at once in 2013, creating upheaval in communities and leaving neighborhoods with decaying empty buildings.</p><p>But as <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2025/09/25/chicago-public-schools-enrollment-drops-restarts-decrease-migrant-students-latino-immigration" target="_blank" ><u>student enrollment continues to drop</u></a>, a growing chorus of people say it’s time to do another round.</p><p>A <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/06/13/chicago-public-schools-declining-enrollment-causes-small-schools-high-costs/" target="_blank" ><u>moratorium on school closings</u></a> will lift in January, just as the city’s first fully elected school board is sworn into office. For decades, the mayor controlled the school board and drove decisions about school closures.</p><p>But now, the school board president will set the agenda — and whether any school closures or consolidations should come up for a vote.</p><p>And at a <a class="Link" href="https://news.wttw.com/2026/09/15/chicago-school-board-president-forum-wttw-news-town-hall" target="_blank" ><u>forum hosted by WTTW</u></a> earlier this week, the four candidates laid out differing views on how they would approach the issue.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="HtmlModule"><a class="AnchorLink" id="html-embed-module-9e0000" name="html-embed-module-9e0000"></a><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dvmq8g5UfAg?si=qoCfY3nPMgFHh07B&start=1707" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> </div><p>Hilario Dominguez, a former political director for the Chicago Teachers Union, is the only candidate who is pledging not to support school closings. Jessica Biggs, a former principal, and Victor Henderson, a prominent defense attorney, said they would consider closing schools, but only after hearing from communities that would be affected.</p><p>Sendhil Revuluri, a former Chicago board member and math teacher, made the case for closing under-enrolled high schools, in particular, because they typically can’t support a wide array of classes and programs.</p><p>Chicago Public Schools only closed one small high school in 2013, mostly because closing high schools creates safety concerns. The school district has lost about a quarter of its enrollment in the last decade, and <a class="Link" href="https://wgntv.com/news/wgn-investigates/cps-data-shows-13-high-schools-are-80-empty/" target="_blank" ><u>more than a dozen high schools are at 20% or less</u></a> of their building’s student capacity.</p><p>As of earlier this year, Chicago Public Schools data showed one-third of all district-run schools were at less than half their capacity.</p><p>Revuluri was on the school board in 2019, serving under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot when <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/9/1/20842132/englewood-high-school-cps-chicago-public-schools" target="_blank" ><u>Englewood STEM High School opened</u></a>. The school district was trying something new by phasing out four struggling high schools and assigning students who lived in the area to a new school.</p><p>Revuluri said the Englewood STEM principal told him about a student from one of the soon-to-be-closed schools who started crying as she toured the new building.</p><p>She told the principal: “I didn't know school could be like this,” Revuluri said.</p><p>Her school didn’t have a yearbook club or sports, and all the students attended the same classes located in one hallway, he said.</p><p>“It's not about politics,” Revuluri said. “It's not about budgets. It's about giving our students a quality educational experience.”</p><p>Biggs acknowledged that communities were harmed in the 2013 closings. At the time, she was the principal of a South Side elementary school that took in students from closed schools. She said the process created distrust in the community because “nobody ever came to them and asked what it was they wanted.”</p><p>Despite new investments in schools tapped to take in students, <a class="Link" href="https://consortium.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/2018-10/School%20Closings%20in%20Chicago-May2018-Consortium.pdf" target="_blank" ><u>a 2018 study found</u></a> many staff felt unprepared and many children did not feel welcome at their new school.</p><p>“I can certainly say that we cannot repeat a top-down mass closure experience,” Biggs said.</p><p>But other CPS leaders have tried to get buy-in through community engagement, and it has not worked. Chicago parents, teachers and others have vigorously fought school closures, even after numerous town halls and meetings asking for their input.</p><p>Henderson also said he wanted to ask community members what they think should be done with under-enrolled schools.</p><p>“There may be a neighborhood that says, ‘We only have 10 or 15 kids in the school, and we would rather have a Boys & Girls Club so people can have some place to go after school to decrease violence,’” he said.</p><p>This also may be unrealistic. While CPS and the city promised to convert vacant schools into community assets, <a class="Link" href="https://graphics.suntimes.com/education/2023/chicagos-50-closed-schools/buildings/" target="_blank" ><u>actually delivering on that has proven difficult</u></a>. Many buildings have fallen into disrepair, making conversion even more expensive. Several neighborhoods are still grappling with empty buildings more than a decade after the 2013 school closings.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-f60000" name="image-f60000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3cfb86c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+334/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F6a%2F4fe55a304a50a5ba887a2144d992%2F50closedschools-18.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ee53d2c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+334/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F6a%2F4fe55a304a50a5ba887a2144d992%2F50closedschools-18.JPG 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/91ea18a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+334/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F6a%2F4fe55a304a50a5ba887a2144d992%2F50closedschools-18.JPG" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The former Burnham Elementary School." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/91ea18a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+334/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F6a%2F4fe55a304a50a5ba887a2144d992%2F50closedschools-18.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/431a66a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+334/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F6a%2F4fe55a304a50a5ba887a2144d992%2F50closedschools-18.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/91ea18a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3436+0+334/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F6a%2F4fe55a304a50a5ba887a2144d992%2F50closedschools-18.JPG" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The former Burnham Elementary School in South Deering has remained vacant since Chicago Public Schools closed it in 2013.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times file</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Dominguez said that CPS should focus on strengthening under-enrolled schools and bringing services for the community into schools with extra space. He pointed out that some under-utilized schools already have health care clinics.</p><p>“In Atlanta, they have grocery stores inside of their schools to address food insecurity,” he said. “Imagine a world where our schools can serve both the needs of the community and our students.”</p><p>Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union have promoted a similar program in which schools get extra money to provide wraparound services and programs.</p><p>The Sustainable Community Schools initiative is now in 51 schools, but its outcomes have been mixed so far. <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/12/19/chicago-public-schools-sustainable-community-schools-initiative-problems/" target="_blank" ><u>A Chalkbeat Chicago analysis</u></a> published last year found that schools in the program have higher graduation rates than those not in it. But absenteeism rose and enrollment dropped.</p><p>Dominguez called attention to the detrimental effects of past school closings.</p><p>“They don't save money,” he said. “They don’t improve academics. But what they do do is destroy our neighborhoods by increasing gun violence in the areas around those closed schools.”</p><p>Research backs up most of Dominguez’s assertions. It has proven expensive to transition students to new schools and long-term savings are hard to quantify.</p><p>When students were displaced in 2013, on average, their test scores dropped, and though they rebounded eventually, they generally didn’t outpace their peers, according to a <a class="Link" href="https://consortium.uchicago.edu/publications/school-closings-chicago-staff-and-student-experiences-and-academic-outcomes" target="_blank" ><u>2018 study by UChicago’s Consortium on School Research</u></a>.</p><p>And a recently released study from the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health found <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/06/15/shootings-increased-near-chicagos-closed-schools-that-sat-empty-study-finds" target="_blank" ><u>shootings increased near schools that closed in 2013</u></a> and sat empty.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2026/09/16/school-board-president-candidates-meet-at-wttw-forum/" target="_blank" >Chalkbeat’s 4 takeaways from the WTTW Chicago school board president candidate forum</a> </li> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://graphics.suntimes.com/education/2023/chicagos-50-closed-schools/buildings/" >Ten years later, more than half of Chicago’s closed schools remain unused</a> </li> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2023/06/08/what-can-be-done-after-cps-school-closings-10-years-later" >10 years after mass CPS school closings, enrollment is even worse. What can be done?</a> </li> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/education/2023/05/25/chicagos-50-closed-schools-students-not-doing-better" >Chicago promised students would do better after closing 50 schools. That didn’t happen.</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p></p>

<p>Fifteen years after ending “<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2024/11/27/oprah-wildest-dreams-winfrey-car-pontiac-g6-paolo-presta" >The Oprah Winfrey Show</a>” in Chicago, the media mogul is returning to deliver more engaging conversations and “aha” moments in front of an audience outside of the Midwest.</p><p>She will bring “Oprah Winfrey’s Aha” to Sphere in Las Vegas April 2-4, 2027. The venture is not a televised talk show but an “immersive” live experience, featuring music, storytelling and more, according to <a class="Link" href="https://www.sphereentertainmentco.com/oprah-winfreys-aha-a-first-of-its-kind-immersive-experience-debuts-live-at-sphere-for-one-weekend-april-2-4-2027/" target="_blank" >an announcement</a> on Sphere’s website. The two-hour event promises a unique presentation of light and sound, taking advantage of the venue’s globe-shaped space, 580,000-square-foot LED exterior, and the 160,000-square-foot, wraparound LED display inside.</p><p>Special guests include singer-songwriter Jacob Collier, poet and author Ocean Vuong, musician Ajeet and gospel singer Wintley Phipps.</p><p>“‘Aha’ is a dream that came to me as I sat in awe at the opening night of U2 at the Sphere, mesmerized by the possibilities of how the space could be used as a tool for creating greater awareness and understanding of ourselves and our connection to each other,” Winfrey said in a news release.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center><div class="Enhancement-item"> <div class="ExternalContent-wrapper" data-embed> <iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UuFiWC0uIac?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen title="Introducing Oprah Winfrey's AHA"></iframe> </div> </div></div><p>The show’s musical direction will be guided by composer Max Richter, musician and vocal director Jason White, and electronic artist and producer Jon Hopkins. Oscar-winning “Moonlight” screenwriter <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/theater/2026/04/10/windfall-steppenwolf-play-tarell-alvin-mccraney-moonlight-writer" >Tarell Alvin McCraney</a>, who has premiered work at Chicago's Steppenwolf, will help write the show, while artist Es Devlin and the Plum Village Monks will contribute original works.</p><p>Tickets start at $145 and go on sale Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Prospective attendees can sign up for a presale and view travel packages at <a class="Link" href="http://ahalive.com" target="_blank" ><u>ahalive.com</u></a>.</p><p>Oprah began her career in Chicago in 1984 on WLS-Channel 7's morning talk show, “A.M. Chicago.” It was renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 1985 and taped at <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/business/2015/3/3/18575251/oprah-s-harpo-studios-to-close-in-december" >Harpo Studios</a> on the Near West Side from 1990 to 2011.</p>

<p>The transformation of Evanston’s Harley Clarke Mansion — a nearly 100-year-old landmark along the lakefront — took a major step forward last week.</p><p>The Evanston Historic Preservation Commission approved Celadon Partners’ plans to turn the Harley Clarke Mansion into an event space with amenities like a coffee shop and restaurant. </p><p>“This project has been an evolution, and it's been because we've listened to the community,” Celadon Partners CEO Scott Henry said. “I think it's good, [with] time invested up front, to make sure we've got a really great project.”</p><p>About two years ago, Celadon responded to Evanston's Request for Proposals for the mansion with an <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2024/09/27/developer-celadon-plan-commercial-uses-evanstons-landmark-harley-clarke-mansion" >adaptive reuse project</a> that would include a boutique hotel. </p><p>Some portions of the initial proposal, including the hotel, have been axed due to market conditions, but Henry said the team remains committed to keeping the mansion as a public asset while honoring its history. The redevelopment cost remains at $30 million, and the developer's seeking $12 million in federal and state historic tax credits.</p><p>When the event space isn't booked, it will be open for public uses such as fitness classes and co-working spaces. In addition to the restaurant and coffee shop, an ice cream parlor operated by an Evanston business will also open. And the mansion’s billiards room will become a jazz club-style speakeasy, Henry said.</p><p>Celadon will also launch Harley Clarke Beer Co. with more than a dozen beers brewed through a partner brewery in the North Side. Some of the beers, along with some cocktails, are based on recipes Celadon found in the mansion’s walls during demolition and due diligence work on the building. Henry said some of the beers will be brewed in French oak or gin barrels, giving them a taste “you just can’t get anywhere else.”</p><p>“Harley Clarke's going to be different and special, even above the amazing things we’re doing with the mansion,” Henry said. “We really want people to come back again and again because we're always going to be introducing these new, fun things that you just can't find anywhere else.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-190000" name="image-190000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3eea997/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1932x1084+0+72/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F02%2Fbb%2F5320c58441008d5e435e0d282d88%2Fharleyclarke-2.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f77cb4b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1932x1084+0+72/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F02%2Fbb%2F5320c58441008d5e435e0d282d88%2Fharleyclarke-2.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0aa2ef7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1932x1084+0+72/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F02%2Fbb%2F5320c58441008d5e435e0d282d88%2Fharleyclarke-2.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Rendering of Harley Clarke Mansion in Evanston." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0aa2ef7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1932x1084+0+72/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F02%2Fbb%2F5320c58441008d5e435e0d282d88%2Fharleyclarke-2.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6127fd7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1932x1084+0+72/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F02%2Fbb%2F5320c58441008d5e435e0d282d88%2Fharleyclarke-2.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0aa2ef7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1932x1084+0+72/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F02%2Fbb%2F5320c58441008d5e435e0d282d88%2Fharleyclarke-2.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Rendering of the Harley Clarke Mansion in Evanston.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Provided by Assemble Design Workshop</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The project includes the entire Harley Clarke Mansion grounds at 2603 Sheridan Road. The mansion was built for utility magnate Harley Clarke in 1926, and the grounds, designed by renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen, were completed in 1928. Evanston landmarked the property in 1982.</p><p>Celadon is giving the nonprofit Jens Jensen Gardens in Evanston $3.5 million to restore the property’s gardens to reflect Jensen’s original vision. The nonprofit will be a lifetime partner of property to help maintain the gardens, according to Henry.</p><p>Celadon will restore the property’s coach house into a hub for the nonprofit, including offices, equipment storage and a learning center for the public. Henry said it's also mulling a program where members of the public who volunteer with the Jens Jensen Gardens, or another nonprofit, can receive food and drink discounts at the mansion.</p><p>Henry’s firm is no stranger to adaptive reuse. It’s set to begin construction on Pullman’s historic <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2026/02/24/gov-jb-pritzker-100-million-redevelopment-pullman-hotel-florence" >Hotel Florence</a> in March 2027, turning the site into a “mind-blowing entertainment experience.” His firm also converted the former West Pullman Elementary School into senior housing.</p><p>Henry said the Harley Clarke Mansion is in great shape compared to other historic properties his firm has worked on. </p><p>“This is a dream,” he said. “We're going to do our best to look at historic photos to try and bring back what [the mansion] was, but really … the mansion is super intact and a really nice starting point for us.”</p><p>There are “so many hidden treasures” Celadon plans to honor in the mansion’s future, Henry said. Clarke’s daughter’s bathroom is one of the most complete rooms, with original tiling depicting fairy-tales and children’s stories. The tiles are serving as the inspiration behind the ice cream parlor’s flavors, he said.</p><p>Other elements being preserved are an original copper Juliet balcony and ornate copper gutters.</p><p>Celadon still needs approvals from the Evanston Land Use Commission and the City Council. </p><p>The firm hopes to start work in March 2027 and kick off operations in the first quarter of 2028.</p><p>In the meantime, Celadon has hosted pop-ups ranging from a weekend coffee stand to ice cream and beer garden events on the mansion’s east lawn. Watch parties for Northwestern University and the Bears games are also taking place in the beer garden.</p><p>The attendance at its events has affirmed to Celadon how much the community values the mansion, Nick Jefferson, director of community development and engagement at Celadon, said.</p><p>“There's so many different people that are just using the space like a public park,” Jefferson said. “When you turn around in the back and see the beer garden, it literally feels like a hidden treasure. Folks are super excited about what's to come.”</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2024/09/27/developer-celadon-plan-commercial-uses-evanstons-landmark-harley-clarke-mansion" >Developer’s plan would usher commercial uses into Evanston’s landmark Harley Clarke Mansion</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p></p>

<p><i>Good afternoon! It’s Wednesday, and two Chicago-area restaurants made </i><a class="Link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/dining/best-restaurants-america.html?unlocked_article_code=1.BlE.XYqF.EcLc71WlTgbA&smid=url-share" target="_blank" ><i><u>this list</u></i></a><i> of the country’s best eateries. Here’s what else you need to know today.</i></p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/architecture/2026/09/16/google-artist-sanford-biggers-sculpture-loop-thompson-center-headquarters" target="_blank" ><b><u>1. Google linked with artist Sanford Biggers to create a major outdoor sculpture for its Loop headquarters</u></b></a></p><p>Called Vector, the winding, angular piece will be composed of glazed terra cotta panels — a contrast to the glassy and rounded headquarters and its now-muted exterior colors brought about by the building’s current renovation, my colleague Lee Bey writes. The sculpture will be 30 feet tall and inspired by 19th-century quilt patterns.</p><p>“The quilt is interesting to me because it is sort of the repository of American culture, in a lot of ways,” said Biggers, 56, a Los Angeles artist who lived in Chicago while earning his master’s at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the 1990s. “There’s also rumored stories of [quilts] being used along the Underground Railroad as a coded symbol, but I’m also very interested in the geometry and the pattern and the craftsmanship of the objects themselves. Vector is actually handmade tiles that I’ve made with existing quilts in mind.”</p><p>The sculpture, expected to be completed next year, will be set in place on the plaza near where Jean Dubuffet’s 29-foot tall Monument with Standing Beast stood during the building’s previous life as the state-owned James R. Thompson Center.</p><p>The state put the Dubuffet in storage in 2024 after selling the building. There were plans to ultimately place the work at the Art Institute of Chicago on permanent loan, but the deal never happened. So for now, Standing Beast sits and waits.</p><p>Yesterday, Google also released a few new images depicting its headquarters’ renovated atrium. Renderings show the ground floor — where the food court used to be — will have a circular terraced seating area with retail space. And Google said it’s restoring, rather than replacing, the original rosette at the center of the floor. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/architecture/2026/09/16/google-artist-sanford-biggers-sculpture-loop-thompson-center-headquarters" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/health-medicine/2026/09/16/chicago-heatwave-cooling-ordinance-violation-air-conditioning-heat-related-death" target="_blank" ><b><u>2. A historic South Side building was the first to violate Chicago’s cooling ordinance this year</u></b></a></p><p>Records show the failed inspection at the Yale Building in Englewood happened on Aug. 31, my colleague Eunice Lee reports. Landlords and building owners can be fined up to $1,000 per day per violation.</p><p>“Following our inspection of 6565 S. Yale Ave., inspectors cited the property for an inoperable chiller and noncompliance with the City’s Cooling Ordinance,” wrote Nefsa’Hyatt Brown, director of public affairs for the city’s Department of Buildings, in a Sept. 3 email. "[The Department of Buildings] has escalated our enforcement action to the Department of Law for Circuit Court.”</p><p>The Yale Building was constructed in the 1890s and converted into low-income senior housing in 2003. Owner John Luce said the 20-year-old, 100-ton chiller has been fixed and will be replaced this fall.</p><p>Chicago’s cooling ordinance was established after three elderly women died at the James Sneider Apartments in Rogers Park in summer 2022. The ordinance requires certain buildings — including nursing homes, housing for older persons, high-rises over 80 feet and residential buildings with 100 or more units — to “provide air conditioning in every unit, or maintain a designated air-conditioned common area available to residents when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees,” Brown wrote. “We have had 8 violations of the Chicago Cooling Ordinance referred to the City’s Department of Law, including the most recent at 6565 S. Yale.”</p><p>So far this year, 14 people have died from heat-related causes in Cook County, the most in any year since at least 2015. Eleven of the deaths have occurred in Chicago. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/health-medicine/2026/09/16/chicago-heatwave-cooling-ordinance-violation-air-conditioning-heat-related-death" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/09/16/broadview-six-boutros-abughazaleh-perry" target="_blank" ><b><u>3. The ‘Broadview 6’ want a special counsel to investigate their case</u></b></a></p><p>Defense attorneys argue “significant failings” by Chicago U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros demonstrate the need for an independent special counsel to determine what went wrong with the tainted prosecution, Jon Seidel reports for the Chicago Sun-Times.</p><p>At “bare minimum,” they said, answers are needed about Boutros’ recent admission that he’s been in possession since last fall of an October 2025 grand jury transcript documenting apparent misconduct by one of his prosecutors.</p><p>That misconduct occurred while the feds were seeking an indictment against six individuals who pushed back against the Trump administration’s Operation Midway Blitz deportation campaign. They were indicted last October for an alleged conspiracy to impede a federal agent, but the charges have since been dropped.</p><p>Boutros has said he doesn’t remember reading the transcript after he received it. He told U.S. District Judge April Perry in May he only learned of the misconduct in April. [<a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/09/16/broadview-six-boutros-abughazaleh-perry" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/music/2026/09/16/ravinia-renovations-martin-theatre-arts-crafts-architecture-music" target="_blank" ><b><u>4. Ravinia will kick off $38 million more in renovations, this time to its 122-year-old Martin Theatre</u></b></a></p><p>As Ambar Colón reports for the Chicago Sun-Times, the building is the last original structure from when the 36-acre wooded park in Highland Park opened in 1904. The Northbrook-based Negaunee Foundation gifted Ravinia the funds to complete the modernization project.</p><p>The first phase of construction will begin next month, with the Martin closing after English singer-songwriter Jacob Collier performs on Sept. 23, according to a press release. Renovations will pause for performances slated during the 2027 season, but work will resume shortly after it ends. The building will officially reopen to the public in 2028.</p><p>The Martin Theatre, with its stained glass windows and thoughtfully crafted wood details, is a prime example of the Arts and Crafts architectural movement. Notably, the historic structure’s stained glass windows inspired the design of the new acoustics shell Ravinia opened this summer, the result of a $70 million round of renovations. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/music/2026/09/16/ravinia-renovations-martin-theatre-arts-crafts-architecture-music" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/music/2026/09/16/jazz-chicago-free-festivals-music-englewood-hyde-park-coltrane-miles-davis" target="_blank" ><b><u>5. Here are 10 jazz sets to see this month at Chicago’s free festivals, from up-and-comers to John Coltrane tributes</u></b></a></p><p>Chicago has had an especially big year for jazz, beginning when the city hosted the UNESCO International Jazz Day in April. But local fans of the genre know September is the city’s true jazz month, when three free festivals unfold across town. While Downtown’s city-run Chicago Jazz Festival has come and gone, there are still plenty of world-class jazz performances on deck.</p><p>This weekend, the 27th annual Englewood Jazz Festival, founded by the esteemed saxophonist Ernest Dawkins, will uplift up-and-coming musicians, including members of the longstanding training ensemble the Young Masters. The event also will celebrate all-time greats like John Coltrane and Miles Davis, who were both born 100 years ago.</p><p>Later this month, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival will ring in its 20th year.</p><p>With so much free music to be heard, my colleague Courtney Kueppers compiled a roundup of sets you won’t want to miss at these South Side festivals, which you can see in the link. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/music/2026/09/16/jazz-chicago-free-festivals-music-englewood-hyde-park-coltrane-miles-davis" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ</u></a>]</p><p><b>Here’s what else is happening</b></p><ul class="rte2-style-ul" style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" id="rte-44799bb3-b20f-11f1-bc7d-c71dafbb3c17"><li>The Federal Reserve hiked interest rates for the first time in three years, defying President Donald Trump. [<a class="Link" href="https://apnews.com/live/trump-iran-war-kennedy-center-midterms-news-updates-09-16-2026" target="_blank" ><u>AP</u></a>]</li><li>The Obamas’ pet dog Sunny has died. [<a class="Link" href="https://apnews.com/article/obama-pet-dog-sunny-dies-ba038e3e6112ee430a2fa1568d9bad77" target="_blank" ><u>AP</u></a>]</li><li>More people than ever are trying to get into college classes in Illinois prisons, but demand far outpaces available spots. [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/2026/09/16/more-people-than-ever-are-trying-to-get-into-college-classes-in-illinois-prisons-it-hasnt-gotten-easier" target="_blank" ><u>WBEZ/Open Campus</u></a>]</li><li>Divvy ridership in Chicago hit a record-high 3.5 million trips this summer. [<a class="Link" href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/09/15/chicagos-divvy-ridership-hits-record-high-with-3-5-million-trips-this-summer/" target="_blank" ><u>Block Club Chicago</u></a>]</li></ul><p><b>Oh, and one more thing …</b></p><p>Chicago native Chaka Khan has been getting her flowers and booking gigs all year. Friday’s release of her new album, “Chakzilla,” finds her finally steering her career on her own terms, my colleague Erica Thompson reports.</p><p>The first few singles from the record have been upbeat, pop tunes flavored with disco, funk and jazz elements. Khan sings about being confident, having fun, spreading joy and embracing a promising romance.</p><p>Fans won’t hear any slow jams on the album, which Khan will release on her label, EarthSong. She said ballads just didn’t fit the “vibe.”</p><p>“It’s uplifting,” she said of the project, which also includes a song with Lenny Kravitz. “It’s positive. It’s not, ‘Oh my God, you don’t love me.’ None of that crap. It’s just about being out in the world, living your life, having fun, feeling good and being a good person.” [<a class="Link" href="https://www.wbez.org/music/2026/09/16/chaka-khan-chakzilla-sia-west-end-musical-chicago-music" target="_blank" ><u>Chicago Sun-Times</u></a>]</p><p><b>Tell me something good …</b></p><p>What’s a dessert recipe you recently tried for the first time and loved?</p><p>Sarah writes:</p><p>“Last Thanksgiving, I auditioned a new <a class="Link" href="https://altonbrown.com/recipes/the-apple-pie/" target="_blank" ><u>apple pie recipe</u></a>. Tired of apple pies that overwhelmingly taste like fall spices, I tried Alton Brown’s recipe that features grains of paradise instead of the familiar cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Taking a note from our neighbors to the north, I also grated a little cheddar into the crust for a bit of sharpness. It was the most apple-y apple pie I’ve ever tasted, and the recipe definitely landed the starring role for holidays to come!”</p><p>Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.</p>

<p>Ravinia Festival announced another series of renovations on Wednesday, this time to the Martin Theatre, the last original structure standing from when the 36-acre wooded park in Highland Park opened in 1904.</p><p>The Martin Theatre refresh will cost an estimated $38 million. The Northbrook-based Negaunee Foundation gifted Ravinia the funds to complete the modernization project.</p><p>The building will close down after English singer-songwriter Jacob Collier performs on Sept. 23, and the first phase of construction will begin on the Martin in October, according to a press release. Next summer, the renovations will pause for performances slated during the 2027 season, but work will resume shortly after it ends, then officially reopen to the public during the 2028 season.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-6f0000" name="image-6f0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7f8efa7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+310/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbf%2F49%2F9e79b5794ed69ef1e557937460dd%2Fb8n2f01-182.tif 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8b6c3ab/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+310/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbf%2F49%2F9e79b5794ed69ef1e557937460dd%2Fb8n2f01-182.tif 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/74c4efb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+310/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbf%2F49%2F9e79b5794ed69ef1e557937460dd%2Fb8n2f01-182.tif" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The Martin Theatre sits just past the park's main gate. This photo is from when the music hall was renamed the Murray Theatre, from 1960 to 1995." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/74c4efb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+310/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbf%2F49%2F9e79b5794ed69ef1e557937460dd%2Fb8n2f01-182.tif 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3df45ec/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+310/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbf%2F49%2F9e79b5794ed69ef1e557937460dd%2Fb8n2f01-182.tif 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/74c4efb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+310/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fbf%2F49%2F9e79b5794ed69ef1e557937460dd%2Fb8n2f01-182.tif" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The Martin Theatre sits just past the park’s main gate. This photo is from when the music hall was renamed the Murray Theatre, from 1960 to 1995.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Courtesy of Ravinia Festival</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“The Martin Theater has always been the soul or the heart of Ravinia,” said CEO Jeffrey P. Haydon. “It's a very rare living example of a true Arts and Crafts theater.”</p><p>He’s referring to an architectural style made popular by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright and other 19th- and 20th-century architects. The Martin Theater, with its stained glass windows and thoughtfully crafted wood details, is a prime example of the Arts and Crafts movement.</p><p>Notably, the historic structure’s stained glass windows <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/music/2026/07/10/ravinia-renovation-hunter-pavilion-cso-lizzo-acoustics-architect-history-concert-tickets" target="_blank" ><u>inspired the design of the new acoustics shell</u></a> that Ravinia opened this summer, the result of a $70 million round of renovations.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-fc0000" name="image-fc0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f1ac9f1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7127x4000+0+377/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F66%2Ffa7265304ce6a41a80e89cd5129f%2Fraviniareno-260711-25.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2a3b02d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7127x4000+0+377/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F66%2Ffa7265304ce6a41a80e89cd5129f%2Fraviniareno-260711-25.JPG 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f3fd339/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7127x4000+0+377/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F66%2Ffa7265304ce6a41a80e89cd5129f%2Fraviniareno-260711-25.JPG" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="The windows at the Martin Theatre at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f3fd339/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7127x4000+0+377/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F66%2Ffa7265304ce6a41a80e89cd5129f%2Fraviniareno-260711-25.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f9aa184/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7127x4000+0+377/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F66%2Ffa7265304ce6a41a80e89cd5129f%2Fraviniareno-260711-25.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f3fd339/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7127x4000+0+377/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff9%2F66%2Ffa7265304ce6a41a80e89cd5129f%2Fraviniareno-260711-25.JPG" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The windows at the Martin Theatre at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“We feel this is a really important project for us to preserve,” Haydon said. But a lot of basic infrastructure work needs to be completed. Ravinia is once again working with Lohan Architecture’s principal architect Michael Barnes and his team for the updates.</p><p>From rotting wooden beams to corroded electrical lines and rain damage, the Martin Theatre has been due for a restoration for some time, Haydon said. New light and sound systems will be installed, along with upgraded dressing rooms and better bathrooms.</p><p>That includes making it comfortable for music lovers of the 21st century, too.</p><p>“We're all bigger than we were 120 years ago, and so the seats need to be a little bit further apart and we need to have more expanded bathrooms,” Haydon said. “Artists are just as important as the people in the audience.”</p><p>When the Martin Theater opened in 1904, it primarily served as a cinema and a vaudeville house — meaning the building housed a variety of performances and genres.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-c40000" name="image-c40000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/77d9887/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2780x1560+0+235/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F9d%2F00c65cf94e558278f4f34647d220%2F05-054a-018a-stock-cso-raviniaca1906.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/478ca85/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2780x1560+0+235/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F9d%2F00c65cf94e558278f4f34647d220%2F05-054a-018a-stock-cso-raviniaca1906.jpg 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e339056/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2780x1560+0+235/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F9d%2F00c65cf94e558278f4f34647d220%2F05-054a-018a-stock-cso-raviniaca1906.jpg" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Frederick Stock and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on the steps of the Ravinia Theatre (circa 1905)." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e339056/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2780x1560+0+235/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F9d%2F00c65cf94e558278f4f34647d220%2F05-054a-018a-stock-cso-raviniaca1906.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ece3c74/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2780x1560+0+235/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F9d%2F00c65cf94e558278f4f34647d220%2F05-054a-018a-stock-cso-raviniaca1906.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e339056/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2780x1560+0+235/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fca%2F9d%2F00c65cf94e558278f4f34647d220%2F05-054a-018a-stock-cso-raviniaca1906.jpg" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Frederick Stock and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on the steps of the Ravinia Theatre, circa 1905-1906.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p> Courtesy of Ravinia Festival</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The desire to keep programming diversified at the Martin remains a goal of the updates, Haydon said.</p><p>“Our intention is to continue building on the classical music tradition with chamber music recitals and operas, but also add more versatility and functionality so that it can better also support jazz, folk, Americana, and some pop,” he said.</p><p>Haydon said that the new design for the theater will also support Ravinia’s youth music education programs, which have expanded over the last two decades. The multimillion-dollar gift from The Negaunee Foundation is the largest in Ravinia’s history, according to the press release.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-160000" name="image-160000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ce17a9a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+243/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9e%2Fa6%2F3e176d7e43f6b6e74fcc6474c211%2Fb3n3f03-008.tif 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1306ef1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+243/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9e%2Fa6%2F3e176d7e43f6b6e74fcc6474c211%2Fb3n3f03-008.tif 2x" loading="lazy" /> <source width="490" height="275" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e91bd1b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+243/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9e%2Fa6%2F3e176d7e43f6b6e74fcc6474c211%2Fb3n3f03-008.tif" loading="lazy" /> <img class="Image" alt="Concertgoers walk in and out of the present-day Martin Theatre. The building was renamed to the Murray Theatre from 1960 to 1995." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e91bd1b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+243/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9e%2Fa6%2F3e176d7e43f6b6e74fcc6474c211%2Fb3n3f03-008.tif 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b611972/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+243/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9e%2Fa6%2F3e176d7e43f6b6e74fcc6474c211%2Fb3n3f03-008.tif 2x" width="490" height="275" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e91bd1b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5400x3031+0+243/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F9e%2Fa6%2F3e176d7e43f6b6e74fcc6474c211%2Fb3n3f03-008.tif" loading="lazy" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Concertgoers walk in and out of the present-day Martin Theatre. The building was renamed to the Murray Theatre from 1960 to 1995.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Courtesy of Ravinia Festival</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The updates are part of a major revamp effort in preparation for the park’s 125th anniversary in 2029. Last year, Ravinia <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/08/09/ravinia-renovations-the-audrey-grand-reopening-2026" target="_blank" ><u>unveiled the first of its renovated venues</u></a>, the Sandra K. Crown Theater inside The Audrey, ahead of its grand reopening this past July.</p><p>Concertgoers bought tickets to see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform with pop artist Lizzo and classical pianist Yunchan Lim, and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/music/2026/07/10/ravinia-renovation-hunter-pavilion-cso-lizzo-acoustics-architect-history-concert-tickets" target="_blank" ><u>were among the first to experience the $70 million makeover</u></a> of the park’s signature stage, the Hunter Pavilion. That update included a bigger stage, wider chairs and better acoustics — but fewer seats.</p><p>Future phases of renovations include updates to the Carousel Stage and Bennett Gordon Hall.</p>