Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: Chicago Police Officer David Ross was on medical leave, purportedly recovering from a knee injury sustained during an on-duty crash, when he took the exam to join the mounted patrol — successfully climbing onto a horse and lifting five bales of hay, records show.
🗞️ Plus: The family of Spencer Leak Jr. is comforted by the many families he once helped, nurses allege retaliation over unionization efforts and more news you need to know.
📝 Keeping score: The Cubs lost to the Athletics, 5-4; the White Sox beat the Twins, 8-0.
📧 Subscribe: Get this newsletter delivered to your inbox weekday mornings.
⏱️: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER 🌤️
Mostly sunny with a high near 88.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
Cop faces firing after passing rigorous test for horseback unit while on injury leave
By Sophie Sherry
Mounting problems: David Ross passed the strenuous test to join the Chicago Police Department’s mounted patrol in 2023 by climbing onto a horse, lifting five bales of hay and moving a 1,200-pound dumpster, among other things. Ross was on medical leave at the time and supposedly recovering from an “unbearable” knee injury sustained during an on-duty crash, records show.
Calls for firing: Police investigators recommended that Ross be fired for violating the department’s leave policy, according to the city’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability. Records show police lawyers are still reviewing the case, and Supt. Larry Snelling hasn’t filed formal charges seeking Ross’ dismissal. It’s one of at least four disciplinary cases involving Ross that haven’t been finalized.
Other alleged misconduct: A newly released COPA report shows Ross was given a six-month suspension for choking a boy who was having a mental health episode in 2024. Ross has been named in more than a dozen complaints throughout his nearly 12-year police career, records show. He has been relieved of his police powers for nearly two years and reassigned to the department’s alternate response section.
SPENCER LEAK JR. 1969-2026 ✶
Spencer Leak helped countless people after relatives’ deaths; now many are trying to comfort his family
By Mitch Dudek
Help after help: Over a span of decades, Spencer Leak Jr. comforted thousands of grieving families in their most trying moments as he helped run Leak & Sons Funeral Homes, an institution on the South Side. Since his unexpected death Sunday, his family has heard from many of them, through calls, texts, social media messages, hot meals and more.
‘Nourishing to our souls’: “We’re so appreciative, especially considering the family’s role has been to comfort so many other families for so many years; the support we’re receiving, it’s nourishing to our souls,” said Mr. Leak’s wife, Donna Leak. “And it’s helping us to stay focused and grounded.”
HEALTHCARE 🩺
Fired nurses allege retaliation for voicing concerns about St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital
By Mohammad Samra
Nurses’ claim: As St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital staffers launched an effort to hold an election to unionize last month with National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, at least six nurses were fired in what the union calls a “troubling pattern of going after experienced nurses who are advocating for their patients and coworkers.” A St. Mary’s spokesperson denied allegations of retaliation.
Cause for concern: When St. Mary was acquired by Prime Healthcare in March 2025, nurse Karlie Thorn said she noticed conditions in the emergency department worsened almost immediately. A disproportionate number of inexperienced nurses, cheaper supplies and staffing shortages were among the conditions Thorn and several others claim. Registered nurses at St. Mary’s plan to hold a one-day strike June 11.
Pushback elsewhere: Relatedly, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia is calling for Endeavor Health to reinstate two Evanston Hospital nurses who were fired, allegedly for trying to unionize.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- Youth demand attention to missing Black girls: Dozens of demonstrators gathered Wednesday for the annual “We Walk for Her” march in Bronzeville, calling for a statewide office dedicated to investigating missing and murdered Black girls and women.
- Free YMCA membership for teens: Seven “Y’s” across the city — Irving Park, Kelly Hall, Lake View, McCormick, Rauner Family, South Side and West Garfield Park — are offering free summer memberships to thousands of teens between ages 12 and 18.
- Toxic warnings in Pilsen: Residents living near a large scrap metal operation in Pilsen are asking Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration to refuse the business a new operating permit because of fear that it releases toxic metals into the air.
- 1901 Project breaks ground: The United Center’s owners, the Wirtz and Reinsdorf families, and elected officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for the $7 billion privately funded project. The goal is to transform the arena’s surrounding parking lots into residences, retail, a hotel, and entertainment and community spaces.
- Water rate hike opposed: Consumer advocates want Illinois American Water to cut its proposed $142.4 million rate hike by 38%, saying the company is seeking exorbitant profits.
- Help for new theaters: The city’s cultural department announced Next Stage Chicago, a new grant program to help emerging theater organizations strengthen their infrastructure and build audiences. The program will provide up to $50,000 to as many as eight nonprofit companies.
- Moment of reflection: Children at the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club on the Near West Side gathered this week to open time capsules created by students living through the COVID-19 pandemic — and then created their own memory boxes, set to be opened in 2031.
OBAMA CENTER OPENING ✶
- 1M visitors expected: The Obama Presidential Center has begun welcoming the first visitors of up to a million per year who are estimated to visit the Jackson Park museum, community center and park area. It will hold a grand opening on Juneteenth. Officials gave reporters a tour inside the eight-floor museum Wednesday.
- Lesson in democracy: The sprawling campus offers art, hoops, history and even a replica of former President Barack Obama’s Oval Office. But across the campus and the museum, democracy and all its contradictions become the throughline, writes Natalie Y. Moore.
- Sculpture is early hit: A 1,200-pound bronze sculpture that memorializes Obama has already become a magnet for people taking pictures.
ON WBEZ 91.5 FM 📻
In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, 9 a.m.
- New law for NICU families: Illinois’ Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act, which took effect Monday, guarantees parents with babies in the NICU up to 20 days of unpaid leave. Three mothers share how that extra time off helps support families.
- Alligator Records at 55: On Friday, the Chicago Blues Fest will pay tribute to Alligator’s milestone anniversary with a headlining set. WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers and the label’s founder Bruce Iglauer discuss.
Say More with Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith, 10 a.m.
- Pride Month: Chicago’s festivals and parades are set, while some suburbs refuse to fly the rainbow flag. Your thoughts on Pride? How will you celebrate Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ community? Callers weigh in.
FROM THE PRESS BOX ⚾🏈
- Ryne Sandberg’s family at odds: The Cubs legend’s children from his first marriage are suing his second wife for allegedly trying to shift control of his name, image and likeness to his stepson and the family’s financial adviser shortly before he died.
- Vargas delivers: Miguel Vargas is on pace for a career year, and his breakout couldn’t have come at a better time for the White Sox, who must navigate at least a month without slugger Munetaka Murakami.
- Key to improvement: Bears QB Caleb Williams’ giant leap will require one from WR Rome Odunze as well, writes Jason Lieser.
- Williams on ‘Madden 27′ cover: The quarterback is the first Bears player to appear on the main cover of the video game.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today’s clue: 4A: Type of engine for the historic “Big Boy” locomotive that rolled through the city Wednesday.
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
Pandan trend hits Chicago’s bakeries, bars and restaurants
By Erica Thompson
A tropical plant from Southeast Asia has taken root on menus at bakeries and restaurants across Chicago.
Known for its floral taste and bright green color, pandan — specifically the leaves — is becoming a go-to ingredient for several local chefs, from Pilsen to Albany Park. Right now, they are using it to enhance cakes, cookies, ice cream, lattes and cocktails.
Of course, pandan has long been used in Southeast Asia, often in place of vanilla. Some cooks macerate its long leaves to produce green powders, extracts or juices. Others use it to create infusions to flavor everything from syrups to sticky rice.
Growing up in the Philippines, Katrina Requiron remembers eating buko pandan, a fruit salad-like dessert with young coconut and cream. At Crumbs.nd.Creams, she and her husband, co-owner Mharloe Requiron, have captured that taste in their buko pandan sylvanas, Filipino sandwich cookies. Buko pandan buttercream is tucked between two pandan-flavored cashew meringue wafers, which are dusted in cake and cookie crumbs.
Katrina began making the cookies years ago as a treat for her family. But she started to get requests from friends when Mharloe posted photos on Facebook. The demand grew, and the Algonquin couple decided to open their bakery in September. They have a significant number of Filipino customers.
“They’re like, ‘Oh my God, nobody makes that here,'” Mharloe said. “I love hearing stories like that, when someone would come here and say, ‘The last time I had this was back in the Philippines.'”
But they also enjoy introducing others to the treat.
“The community has been very supportive,” Katrina said. “We’re just so lucky and glad that they accepted us.”
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
What is your favorite patio or rooftop in Chicago? Tell us why.
Reply to this newsletter (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.
Thanks for reading the Sun-Times Morning Edition!
Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.
Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
The Chicago Sun-Times is a nonprofit supported by readers like you. Become a member to make stories like these free and available to everyone. Learn more at suntimes.com/member.