Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: Some shoppers in the Chicago area are rethinking where they purchase produce as concerns spread over an intestinal disease.
🗞️ Plus: Chicago Public Schools’ plan to lay off 760 teachers, a recap of City Council’s meeting and more news you need to know.
📝 Keeping score: The Sky beat the Storm, 95-90.
☎️ Ask the mayor: Mayor Brandon Johnson will stop by WBEZ’s “In the Loop with Sasha Ann Simons” at 9 a.m. today to answer listeners’ questions live on air. Call 866-915-WBEZ (866-915-9239).
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⏱️: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER 🌤️
Partly sunny with a high near 91. An air quality alert is in effect as wildfire smoke moves in from Canada.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
As cyclospora concerns spread, farmers markets highlight importance of local food access
By Elijah James, Somer Van Benton, Elvia Malagón and Mary Norkol
Cyclospora outbreak: Illinois has confirmed 240 cases of the diarrhea-causing illness cyclosporiasis, the state’s public health department confirmed Wednesday, part of a larger number of cases in most states. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite cyclospora.
What sparked it?: No definitive source has been identified for the current outbreak, but past outbreaks have been linked to imported fresh produce, like bagged salad kits and berries, according to the state health department. Fruits and vegetables coming from a smaller, local producer are likely to have less of a risk for contamination than food from massive manufacturers, one infectious disease expert told the Sun-Times and WBEZ.
Shopping local: Concerns over the outbreak have caused some Chicagoans to rethink where they buy their produce. At several farmers markets Wednesday, shoppers and vendors told our reporters they’re aware of the outbreak — but that they feel consuming locally grown produce is always the best option, especially until more is known about cyclosporiasis. For a list of the city’s farmers markets, head here.
EDUCATION 🍎
CPS will lay off 760 teachers, cut 5 student nonattendance days
By Sarah Karp and Emmanuel Camarillo
CPS cuts: Chicago Public Schools leaders have announced plans to close the district’s massive deficit, including laying off 760 teachers, 801 teacher aides and 162 central office and citywide staff. CPS also plans to freeze spending midyear and furlough staff for five days when students are not supposed to be in attendance — days set aside for planning, training or report card pickup.
Running the numbers: Not paying staff for five days would save the district around $85 million. For the average teacher, that would translate to a $2,300 pay cut, Chicago Teachers Union officials said.
Deadline nears: CPS must pass a balanced budget by the end of August, and officials have spent months trying to close a $732 million deficit. School board members are expected to vote on the budget at their July 30 meeting.
POLITICS ✶
With mayoral race looming, Brandon Johnson falls further behind Giannoulias in fundraising
By Fran Spielman
Money matters: Mayor Brandon Johnson spent nearly three times as much money as he raised in the second quarter of this year, and has just more than $631,309 in the bank less than two weeks before mayoral candidates start circulating their nominating petitions.
Potential challenger: Johnson already faced a huge fundraising disadvantage, having closed the first quarter of 2026 with $813,125 in campaign cash on hand — compared to $18.3 million for Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. The politician is running for reelection as secretary of state and has not declared his candidacy for mayor, though Giannoulias is running feel-good commercials, apparently trying to raise name recognition with voters.
Funding gap: Giannoulias has continued to widen that gap. In the three-month period ending June 30, he took in about $3.65 million and spent about $106,000, leaving him with about $21.85 million in cash on hand, according to the quarterly fundraising report filed Wednesday. That gives him a roughly $21 million lead over Johnson.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- Calls to abolish ICE: Following fatal shootings involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Houston and Maine, Chicago immigrant rights advocates say the incidents underscore their calls to abolish ICE and restrict enforcement tactics that have caused harm.
- Police PPP fraud alleged: Eight more Chicago police officers now face dismissal for fraudulently obtaining federal Paycheck Protection Program loans during the pandemic, City Hall’s inspector general announced.
- More cop controversy: A Chicago police cadet in 2022 reportedly goose-stepped across a high school stage and saluted while wearing a Nazi-like uniform. The cadet’s mom, also a police department employee, is facing dismissal after showing off a photo of her child in the uniform, according to a new report from the city’s top watchdog.
- Ex-police chief sentenced: Former Summit police chief John Kosmowski was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
- Lightfoot bashed during hearing: Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was critiqued during a lengthy confirmation hearing for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday, for signing onto a letter that urged the U.S. Senate to reject his confirmation.
- James Beard Awards considers move: The foundation announced it will shop the so-called “Oscars of the food world” to other U.S. cities and allow them to compete to present the ceremony from 2029 to 2033.
- Frank Gehry desk sold: The 7-ton glass desk designed by the late architect for the lobby of the Inland Steel Building sold at auction Wednesday for $243,200.
CITY COUNCIL RECAP 🏛️
Council ushers in big steps for 2 major projects, condemns top federal prosecutor
By Fran Spielman
Big steps: Two of Chicago’s most pivotal but challenging undeveloped sites — Foundry Park on the North Side and the vacant South Loop parcel known as The 78 — moved forward in a big way at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.
Foundry Park: Mayor Johnson introduced a $201.6 million tax increment financing subsidy for JDL Development’s scaled-back vision for North Side industrial land along the Chicago River that was to be home to the Lincoln Yards megaproject.
The 78: And the full Council approved a $425 million TIF for The 78. The subsidy will bankroll what supporters say are necessary public improvements for the South Loop development, anchored by a $750 million soccer stadium privately financed by Chicago Fire owner Joe Mansueto.
Calls to step down: The Council also approved a resolution demanding the resignation of embattled U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros.
More action:
- Johnson proposed a tax break for Chicago’s film and television industries, reducing the 15% personal property lease transaction tax to 11%.
- City Council OK’d a ban on present and ex-city employees, and elected officials, from using insider information to bet on prediction markets.
- Dr. Garth Walker was confirmed as the city’s public health commissioner.
ON WBEZ 91.5 FM 📻
In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, 9 a.m.
- Ask the mayor: Mayor Johnson conducts his monthly sit-down to answer listener questions. Call 866-915-WBEZ (866-915-9239).
Say More with Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith, 10 a.m.
- The next top cop: Who should replace Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling? Remel Terry of Chicago’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability discusses as callers weigh in.
FROM THE PRESS BOX ⚾🏈
- October quest: With the White Sox in first place and the Cubs contending, we ask their division foes if Chicago’s teams are for real.
- All cap: MLB owners and players are already headed for a stalemate as salary limitations emerge as the main collective bargaining agreement snarl.
- Bears training camp: The team announced it will hold an open walk-through practice at nearby Stevenson High School on Aug. 10.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today’s clue: 1A: Street that, at its intersection with Michigan Avenue, marks the beginning of Route 66
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
Lucy Dacus making her orchestral debut is a full-circle moment
By Hannah Edgar
In 2016, singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus made her debut at Lollapalooza in Grant Park. Then 21, she was an early, first-day act on the BMI Stage, one of the festival’s smallest.
Dacus, who went on to perform at Pitchfork and multiple times in Chicago on tours, including with her Grammy Award-winning band boygenius, is now shaking off nerves ahead of another Downtown performance, almost exactly 10 years to the day since her first Lollapalooza set.
This one, though, takes place on a stage that’s a little bigger: The Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, where she will appear Sunday, performing orchestrated selections backed by the Chicago Philharmonic. This is Dacus’ first time performing with a live orchestra.
She grew up visiting Millennium Park as a child, on road trips to Chicago. Her mother, a recently retired music teacher, grew up in the west suburbs.
A family member will even share the stage with Dacus at the pavilion: Her aunt, Deb Stevenson, is an oboist with the Philharmonic.
“There’s always a little piece in my heart in Chicago,” Dacus told WBEZ.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
If you could perform on any stage in Chicago, which one would you choose — and why?
Email your answer to us (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.
On Wednesday, we asked you: What’s the best way to enjoy summer in Chicago on a budget?
Here’s some of what you said, lightly edited for clarity:
“Bring food to the lake front near Buckingham Fountain. Find a beautiful spot under a tree nearby and enjoy people watching.” — Bobette Staley
“Buy 400-level seats and bottled water at Wrigley Field.” — Chris Perez
“Catch the 22 Clark Street bus and just enjoy the sights.” — Terrence Camodeca
“Grill at the Point.” — Quinn Norals
“Free orchestra concerts at Grant Park Music Festival!” — Alexandra Newman
PICTURE CHICAGO 📸
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Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
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