Good afternoon! It’s Wednesday, and Mayor Brandon Johnson is set to meet Pope Leo XIV later this month. Here’s what else you need to know today.
Both leaders said Chicagoans’ response to the Trump administration’s targeted immigration operations serve as proof of the city’s Democratic values, my colleague Tina Sfondeles writes.
This time, the Democratic National Committee asked cities to submit bids for both the 2028 and 2032 conventions — mirroring a process Republicans have for their conventions. Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Denver and Philadelphia are finalists.
The DNC has been held back-to-back in Chicago before: in 1940 and 1944, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was nominated, as well as 1952 and 1956, when Adlai Stevenson received the nomination.
The Chicago 2028 Host Committee is wrapping up a three-day visit to Chicago, which included a site visit to the United Center, where the 2024 DNC took place. They also saw Chicago’s 360 Observation Deck, an architectural boat tour and the Obama Presidential Center, which opens to the public on Juneteenth.
Gov. JB Pritzker was largely credited with helping to land the 2024 convention and seemed to enjoy a huge spotlight brought on the city as its social chair of sorts. Pritzker is exploring his own 2028 presidential bid and said he would once again contribute if Chicago secured the convention, but he would not specify an amount. [Chicago Sun-Times]
As my colleagues Sarah Karp and Emmanuel Camarillo report, this is the first time in three years the district is proposing cuts directly hitting classrooms. Chicago Public Schools has been flush with federal COVID relief funding and did not face big shortfalls.
A WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times analysis shows between 700 and 800 classroom teachers could be laid off under the new staffing formula. Based on the average teacher’s salary of about $100,000, that would reduce spending $70 million to $80 million. CPS also said some small schools will lose their assistant principal position, but officials did not say how many jobs would be cut or what enrollment constitutes a small school.
Meanwhile the district plans to increase spending on special education teachers, classroom assistants, physical and occupational therapists and speech pathologists, but officials didn’t say how much those increases would be.
Because the district only provided broad outlines of what schools are getting, other cuts may surface once spending plans are finalized by Local School Councils. Schools must submit final budgets by June 9. [WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times]
3. A potential hantavirus case, unrelated to the cruise ship outbreak, has been reported in Illinois
A Winnebago County resident was likely exposed to the virus through rodent droppings while cleaning a home, the Illinois Department of Health announced yesterday. The person has since recovered from mild symptoms that did not require hospitalization, the department said in a statement.
State health officials said the person has not traveled internationally or made contact with any of the patients from the cruise ship. The person’s case is a different strain of the virus.
“Unlike the Andes strain of Hantavirus responsible for the cruise outbreak, the North American strains are not known to spread from person-to-person,” the agency said in a statement. “The risk of contracting Hantavirus of any kind remains very low for Illinois residents.”
The agency is awaiting lab results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to confirm it is hantavirus. The test can take up to 10 days. [Chicago Sun-Times]
The cruise ship outbreak has grown to 11 reported cases. The World Health Organization said confirmed and suspected cases have only been reported among passengers or crew. [AP]
4. The Non-Equity Jeff Awards will pause its Chicago storefront theater honors starting June 1
The decision comes after immediate backlash from theater companies and artists after the 52nd annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards in March, when the committee of judges honored Invictus Theatre’s artistic director Charles Askenaizer as best director. Askenaizer is under investigation by the theater company’s board after recent allegations of abuse surfaced on social media from actors.
In the days after the ceremony, a growing number of theater companies announced they would cut ties with the Jeffs, citing Askenaizer’s award and reports of unprofessionalism on behalf of Jeff committee members, which include judges sleeping through performances.
“As we got into this work, we realized how complicated it was for the non-equity community,” said Suzanne Ross, communications chair for the Jeff Awards. “In order for us to be in touch with the community of non-equity theaters, we just need more time. And the best way for us to do this is to take a pause and connect with them.” [WBEZ]
Chefs Jimmy Bannos Jr. and Kevin Stack, along with managing partner Audrey Witte, have put together a unique menu of shareables, classic entrees, handmade pastas, cocktails and wines that incorporate seasonal and local ingredients, as well as a curated selection of more unique imports from Greece.
As a fourth-generation restaurateur, Bannos Jr. is the first in his family to open a Greek restaurant. The Niles eatery is his most personal project yet, he said.
Bannos Jr. and his father have worked together at many restaurants. But for this venture, Bannos Sr. mostly takes the back seat as a consultant and to keep an eye on things as an industry veteran.
“Literally every single person in my dad’s family that’s been to the U.S. has been in the restaurant business. There’s no way I’d be in this business if it wasn’t for [my family] and what they’ve done since the early 20th century,” Bannos Jr. said. “It’s like a celebration of our heritage.” [Chicago Sun-Times]
Here’s what else is happening
- The U.S. Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve. [Axios]
- The health condition PCOS is now called PMOS, a change researchers hope will help patients receive better care. [AP]
- Joe Sedelmaier, the legendary director of TV commercials such as Wendy’s “Where’s the beef” ad, died at 92. [Chicago Sun-Times]
- Communities across Illinois are celebrating Route 66’s Centennial. [Medill Illinois News Bureau/Capitol News Illinois]
Oh, and one more thing …
The Balbo Monument, named for a fascist leader, has fueled debate for at least eight decades and still stands in the shadow of Soldier Field. Controversial past aside, it has other problems to worry about, WBEZ’s Curious City reports.
“This monument needs a lot of work,” Andrzej Dajnowski said while reviewing the Balbo Monument in Burnham Park on a recent Friday. Dajnowski is a world-renowned sculpture conservator who has refurbished many monuments and artworks in Chicago, including the Art Institute lions in 2022.
The centerpiece of the Balbo Monument is an ancient Roman column made of breccia, an ornamental stone used frequently in Roman architecture. It sits atop a large travertine base with marble components in between, and it has many small cracks from freeze and thaw damage. That’s because the column spent about 2,000 years in a lush Mediterranean climate and its last 90 years outdoors in Chicago — or what one might call “the opposite.” [WBEZ]
Tell me something good …
I just learned the restaurant that made Maxwell Street Polish sausage famous is moving, meaning there’s another famous Chicago spot I need to try ASAP. But that also has me wondering, what are your favorite places to get a hot dog in the Chicago area?
Paul writes:
“Carl’s red hots. Southeast side of Chicago. In ‘68 (I’m old!) you could get a dog with all the fixens, fries and a small coke for a buck!”
Beth writes:
“When I was going through chemotherapy at St. Joseph’s in Lakeview we’d stop at Flub A Dub Chubs for a dog and tots after treatment. The $5 special would be my last good meal before the side effects kicked in. We’re still regulars.”
And Susan writes:
“For great hot dogs in an unlikely location, get going to Fixin’ Frank’s at the Home Depot at 350 E. Kensington Rd. in Mt Prospect. Cheap and wagyu beef is delicious, Polish sausage too!”
Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.