{"id":794310,"date":"2026-05-13T21:22:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T21:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/794310\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T21:22:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T21:22:27","slug":"chicago-makes-another-dnc-bid-the-rundown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/794310\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago makes another DNC bid: The Rundown"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good afternoon! It\u2019s Wednesday, and Mayor Brandon Johnson is set to meet Pope Leo XIV<\/a> later this month. Here\u2019s what else you need to know today.<\/p>\n

1. Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson are pitching Chicago to once again host the Democratic National Convention<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Both leaders said Chicagoans\u2019 response to the Trump administration\u2019s targeted immigration operations serve as proof of the city\u2019s Democratic values, my colleague Tina Sfondeles writes.<\/p>\n

This time, the Democratic National Committee asked cities to submit bids for both the 2028 and 2032 conventions \u2014 mirroring a process Republicans have for their conventions. Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Denver and Philadelphia are finalists.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 360 Observation Deck, an architectural boat tour and the Obama Presidential Center, which opens to the public on Juneteenth.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>]<\/p>\n

2. CPS plans to cut teacher positions and raise class sizes in an effort to shrink its $732 million deficit<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile the district plans to increase spending on special education teachers, classroom assistants, physical and occupational therapists and speech pathologists, but officials didn\u2019t say how much those increases would be.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>]<\/p>\n

3. A potential hantavirus case, unrelated to the cruise ship outbreak, has been reported in Illinois<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

State health officials said the person has not traveled internationally or made contact with any of the patients from the cruise ship. The person\u2019s case is a different strain of the virus.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnlike the Andes strain of Hantavirus responsible for the cruise outbreak, the North American strains are not known to spread from person-to-person,\u201d the agency said in a statement. \u201cThe risk of contracting Hantavirus of any kind remains very low for Illinois residents.\u201d<\/p>\n

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<\/a>]<\/p>\n

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<\/a>]<\/p>\n

4. The Non-Equity Jeff Awards will pause its Chicago storefront theater honors starting June 1<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2019s artistic director Charles Askenaizer as best director. Askenaizer is under investigation by the theater company\u2019s board after recent allegations of abuse surfaced on social media from actors.<\/p>\n

In the days after the ceremony, a growing number of theater companies announced they would cut ties with the Jeffs, citing Askenaizer\u2019s award and reports of unprofessionalism on behalf of Jeff committee members, which include judges sleeping through performances.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we got into this work, we realized how complicated it was for the non-equity community,\u201d said Suzanne Ross, communications chair for the Jeff Awards. \u201cIn 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.\u201d [WBEZ<\/a>]<\/p>\n

5. Not your yiayia\u2019s Greek food: New restaurant Kouklas in Niles serves up cross-generational Mediterranean fare<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiterally every single person in my dad\u2019s family that\u2019s been to the U.S. has been in the restaurant business. There\u2019s no way I\u2019d be in this business if it wasn\u2019t for [my family] and what they\u2019ve done since the early 20th century,\u201d Bannos Jr. said. \u201cIt\u2019s like a celebration of our heritage.\u201d [Chicago Sun-Times<\/a>]<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what else is happening<\/b><\/p>\n