Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: South Loop restaurant Reserv is facing eviction as its former workers say they’re owed thousands in unpaid wages.
🗞️ Plus: Help for the city’s fading class of vintage signs, Democrats decry an ex-Ilinois public health chief’s rebrand in Maine and more news you need to know.
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⏱️: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER ☀️
The heat has returned — sunny with a high near 97 and heat index values as high as 100. Keep this list of the city’s cooling centers handy.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
South Loop restaurant faces eviction as former workers allege wage theft
By Olivia Dimmer
Money due: Former bartenders and servers of the South Loop eatery Reserv said they’re owed thousands in unpaid wages, after the business was served an eviction notice last month. Reserv owes an estimated $45,800 for unpaid rent since March, court records show. The 9,454-square-foot restaurant at 744 S. Dearborn St. opened in December and replaced Roots Handmade Pizza in Printer’s Row.
The fallout: Reserv owner Gerald Joseph says he’s contesting the eviction filing and dealing with a dispute involving a business partner. But the financial fallout has been immediate for many former Reserv employees, with some recently filing complaints with city and state regulators against the business.
Key context: Employment attorneys say Reserv employees’ experiences reflect a broader pattern across Chicago’s service industry — and that workers have options for recourse.
POLITICS ✶
Democrats trash ex-state public health chief who seeks Maine Senate bid
By Tina Sfondeles and Dave McKinney
Dem diss: Top Illinois Democrats and the son of a former military veteran who died of Legionnaires’ disease at a state-run veterans home downstate bashed Dr. Nirav Shah, the state’s former public health chief, last week after he launched his U.S. Senate candidacy in Maine. Shah is aiming to replace Graham Platner as the party’s nominee to take on Maine’s Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in a pivotal race that could determine control of Congress’ upper chamber.
Key context: Before moving to Maine, Shah presided over a series of fatal Legionnaires disease outbreaks at the veterans home in Quincy that were linked to 14 resident deaths and the sickening of dozens of other staff and residents. His oversight under GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration was condemned at the time for worsening the horrific and preventable public health crisis and causing a greater loss of life.
ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN 📐
Iconic Loop weather bell will shine again after years in the dark
By Lee Bey
Downtown holdout: Behold the old Bell Federal Savings weather sign, which has stood sentinel at the northwest corner of the Rector Building, 79 W. Monroe St., since the 1950s. Though it hasn’t worked for years, the sign used to provide the time and temperature. It also has a lighted, acrylic bell that changes color to alert passersby of coming weather conditions.
Restoration work: The device is undergoing a renovation aimed at making it look and function as it did when it was new. “It’s an icon for the city,” said Gary Stoltz, principal and chief design and development officer for R2 Companies, which is redeveloping the Rector Building, and the bell as a result.
CITY HALL 🏛️
Finance Committee OKs Fire stadium subsidy, stalls meter vote
By Fran Spielman
$425M subsidy: Despite myriad concerns, City Council’s Finance Committee on Monday overwhelmingly approved a $425 million tax increment financing subsidy to bankroll the public improvements needed to support a South Loop development anchored by a new soccer stadium privately financed by the Chicago Fire.
Meter deal ducked: The committee was also poised to reject a New York investment firm’s $2.53 billion bid to acquire Chicago’s parking meters, but instead postponed the politically volatile vote under threat of a lawsuit by the current owner.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- St. Sabina grapples with another claim: The church community is again torn over a sexual abuse allegation against the flock’s longtime leader, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, who has been removed as the Archdiocese Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review looks into the claim.
- Blitz-linked sentencing looms: Federal prosecutors are seeking a 2.5-year prison sentence for Hector Gomez, who admitted firing a gun “in proximity of” U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents last fall in the waning days of Operation Midway Blitz.
- CTU endorsements: The Chicago Teachers Union plans to endorse 15 candidates in the upcoming school board race, throwing its weight behind incumbents and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s picks.
- Ex-cyber negotiator sentenced: Angelo Martino, a former ransomware negotiator for the city, was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for secretly helping cybercriminals extort clients he was hired to protect.
- FAA extends O’Hare flight cap: For another year, the Federal Aviation Administration said it will limit flights out of O’Hare Airport, citing construction projects and airfield adjustments expected to continue through next summer.
- Trader Joe’s store unionizes: The grocery chain’s North Center store last week became the first unionized location in Illinois, becoming the fifth in the country to join the Trader Joe’s United independent union.
- OPC’s coffee supplier: Lower West Side company Color Me Coffee was chosen as the sole coffee supplier for the newly opened Obama Presidential Center. “Everybody’s just ecstatic to be a part of this,” business co-founder Rhonda Stivers said.
MUST-READ COMMENTARY 🗣️
- Stefano Esposito: What’s more powerful than the lure of digital devices? Kids, meet Bourbon.
- Alden Loury: Spencer Leak Jr.’s death hits home for me — as it should.
- Ben Jealous: The Rainbow Beach wade-in continues to guide the racial justice movement.
- Rich Miller: Rep. Carol Ammons’ indictment puts all eyes on Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch.
- George W. Bohmstedt and Edward E. Gordon: America’s schools are producing a generation of techno-peasants.
ARTS AND CULTURE 🎶
Lizzo christens Ravinia’s $70M pavillion overhaul
By Ambar Colón and Selena Fragassi
New beginnings: Audiences who visited the Ravinia Festival last weekend for an opening concert featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, pop artist Lizzo and classical pianist Yunchan Lim likely saw and heard a few improvements — thanks to a $70 million makeover.
The renovations: The Highland Park venue’s signature stage, called the Hunter Pavilion, is bigger, freshly designed and features a brand new orchestra shell with enhanced acoustics. There are also fewer seats in the pavilion due to a seven-foot increase in stage space. But Ravinia invested in cushioned seats that come with cupholders. Another immediate change is new perimeter landscaping, which means fewer vantage points for lawn audiences.
More music: Back in the city, the Square Roots Festival brought stellar local talent and national and international flair to Lincoln Square. Nick Lowe, Dehd and Tuvergen Band were among our reporter’s favorite acts.
FROM THE PRESS BOX ⚾🏀
- Premium model in PCA: As the Cubs’ lone player in Philadelphia for MLB All-Star Week, Pete Crow-Armstrong reps not just his team but the rarest caliber of stardom.
- A subtle kind of All-Star: Munetaka Murakami is worth every bit of attention in the White Sox’ surprise season.
- More All-Star notes: Murakami flamed out during the Home Run Derby while former Cub Kyle Schwarber and ex-Sox player Dylan Cease stepped into starring roles.
- Splitter’s summer not so simple: With a second loss in Las Vegas during Summer League, Bulls coach Tiago Splitter is finding out the team has growing pains.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today’s clue: 1A: Chicago Athletic Association, for one
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
Christkindlmarket in July? No, it’s just a Bears-themed Hallmark movie
By Sun-Times Wire
Christmas has come too early to Chicago.
In the blazing heat of July, Hallmark began filming “Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story,” with cast, cameras and crews spotted at Federal Plaza on Monday afternoon.
Chicagoans have been buzzing online about the appearance of the city’s iconic winter holiday Christkindlmarket as they awaited another round of blistering heat. The mystery was solved by eagle-eyed residents who noticed bright yellow filming notices.
Earlier this month, the team and the network announced the Christmas-related romance movie that will air leading up to the winter holidays.
Hallmark said the entire movie will be filmed in and around Chicago, “showcasing iconic locations, beloved traditions and the passion that surrounds one of NFL’s most storied franchises.”
The film will likely feature current and former members of the team.
WATCH: TASTE TESTS ▶️
Taste of Chicago returned to Grant Park last weekend, so we sent journalists to test out some of the food.
Tap above or head here to see what stood out.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
What’s your favorite iconic Chicago sign? Tell us why.
Email your answer to us here (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.
Yesterday, we asked you: Where is your favorite place to swim in Chicago?
Here’s some of what you said, edited for space and clarity …
“Olive Park beach. The park district buoys it off for triathletes to practice swimming. It’s a half mile to Oak Street; [a round-trip] gives you a mile swim. If you need a break, it’s another 4.5 feet high near the wall and there are ladders at the markers.” — Christine Spencer
“North Avenue Beach is my go-to; the skyline view while you’re in the water is unbeatable, plus there’s always good energy around.” — Alex Gajda
“Ohio Street Beach. I love swimming there while enjoying the view. Caffe Olivia is great too.” — Katy Stevens
“Off the rocks near the Planetarium.” — Ed Volpi
“The Chicago river. If you survive that, you’ll never have a sick day again.” — Mike Petrakovitz
“I have three favorite spots for open water swimming … Promontory Point: There are buoys to keep boats out, the views are good, fellow swimmers are friendly and often will chat, and there’s the chill atmosphere of the Pint. North Avenue Chess Pavilion to Oak Street Beach: [There are] lifeguards … [and] Hancock Tower is a great landmark when swimming [the] back crawl northward. Montrose Point on the harbor mouth side: Great view of the Downtown skyline. — Dan Miller
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
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