Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: More people travel to Illinois than any other state for an abortion. A program helps the small percentage who need care in a hospital.
🗞️ Plus: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias jumps in the mayor’s race, a Lollapalooza recap and more news you need to know.
📝 Keeping score: The Cubs fell to the Yankees, 2-1; the White Sox routed the Rays, 9-1
⏱️: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER 🌤️
Mostly sunny with a high near 81.
CHICAGO JIGSAW PUZZLE 🧩
Piece together history to reveal more about today’s photo from the Sun-Times archives.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
Many with high-risk pregnancies can’t get abortions in their states. Illinois welcomes them.
Reporting by Kristen Schorsch
Chicago haven: As states across much of the South and Midwest banned or further restricted abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, a wave of people with high-risk pregnancies traveled to Chicago hospitals.
Illinois acts: The prohibitions also spurred a group of doctors, hospitals, a nonprofit and the state of Illinois to try to make a challenging and expensive journey a little easier.
‘Last resort’: “We’re really viewed as … one of the places of last resort,” said Dr. Laura Laursen, an OB/GYN at Rush University Medical Center who helped start what’s known as the Complex Abortion Regional Line for Access in 2023 to help women with high-risk pregnancies get abortion care in Illinois hospitals.
POLITICS ✶
Alexi Giannoulias launches mayoral bid, knocks ‘revolving door’ at City Hall
Reporting by Fran Spielman
Jumping in: Taking aim at Mayor Brandon Johnson’s “revolving door” of senior leadership, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias joined the race for mayor Sunday, portraying himself as the coalition builder needed to solve Chicago’s problems.
Key context: Giannoulias enters the race as a presumed frontrunner with a political target on his back after raising $22 million from business leaders and building trade unions.
PUBLIC SAFETY 📱
Teens pitch campaigns pushing peers to put down guns
Reporting by Anna Savchenko
Group project: Dozens of nervous teens packed a downtown conference room Thursday to pitch a panel of city officials and civic leaders on social media campaigns they’ve spent the summer developing. Though they took different approaches, their campaign messaging was the same: get teens to put down their guns.
Key context: A six-week summer program organized by the nonprofit Project Unloaded recruited teens from the South and West sides of the city, many of whom have seen the toll of gun violence up close. They get a crash course in how to develop a social media campaign to connect with their peers.
Winning pitch: A campaign called T.R.A.P. emerged victorious. It urged teens not to fall for the trap of believing they’d be safer with a gun, citing research that shows firearm owners are more likely to get shot.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- Marchers carry on MLK legacy: The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter Bernice King joined Mayor Brandon Johnson and others Saturday in rallying against racism and commemorating a contentious event 60 years ago, when marchers were met with violence.
- Police release footage: Chicago police on Friday released video footage showing two suspects wanted in the deadly shooting of a man who was found inside a car with a small child last year in South Shore.
- Ex-cop denied early prison release: Former downstate sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson, convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey, was denied an early release bid from his 20-year sentence. Grayson is terminally ill with cancer.
- New law targets social media: Big Tech giants will be required to strengthen privacy settings for minors under new Illinois legislation that seeks to crack down on addictive social media designs that keep kids scrolling for hours.
- Illinois Tech makes cuts: The Illinois Institute of Technology has laid off about 160 faculty and staff, a university spokesperson said, pointing to declines in research funding and foreign student enrollment.
- Charity care could soar: Cook County Health expects to provide around $485 million in free or discounted care next year, returning to an era before the Affordable Care Act insured millions more than it does today.
- Trump blocked from accessing voter rolls: A downstate federal judge rejected an effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to obtain full access to Illinois’ voter registration database, including sensitive personal data on more than 8 million residents.
- Lit Fest lineup announced: The 41st annual Printers Row Lit Fest will feature more than 200 authors, journalists, poets and screenwriters who will appear during the free event, Sept. 12-13. Headliners include Scott Turow and Geoff Bennett.
LOLLAPALOOZA RECAP 🎶
A mostly muddy Lollapalooza jammed on this weekend, bringing hundreds of thousands of fans, headlining acts and star-making performances.
WBEZ and Sun-Times journalists (including yours truly), plus our sister radio station Vocalo, were there covering the fest from top to bottom.
In our last newsletter, we recapped Thursday’s opening day festivities. Here’s what we saw Friday and Saturday. Check back tomorrow for our final recap.
Day two reviews:
- Charli xcx delivers jaw-dropping drama amid made-for-movies downpour
- The Smashing Pumpkins, well, smashed it with special guests Olivia Rodrigo, Yungblud
- Zara Larsson tunes out the gray day with her brand of pure pop sunshine
- Slayyyter, in a last-minute switch to a prestige stage, finds her best Worst self
- It’s Finn Wolfhard’s first Lollapalooza. But his music is no stranger to Chicago
- Day 2 photos: HorsegiirL, Suki Waterhouse and more
Day three reviews:
- Olivia Dean is ‘all about love’ in feel-good Lollapalooza performance
- Jennie’s Lollapalooza debut offers ‘Ruby’ gems but a bit too much new material to fully grab on to
- Jae Stephens deserves a larger stage — and more hearts to break — in Lollapalooza debut
- Geese soars above the haters as the controversial New York rockers debunk the myths haunting the band
- Southern Gothic songstress Ethel Cain finds deep connection with fans
- Day 3 photos: Leon Thomas, Clipse and more
ON WBEZ 91.5 FM 📻
In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, 9 a.m.
- New Illinois department: Illinois has become one of a growing number of states to consolidate all of its early childhood support resources under one roof. That new department officially opened its doors the first of last month. How does it simplify access to early childhood services in the state? A pair of experts weighs in.
- A league of their own: The nation’s first women’s professional baseball league in nearly 30 years just kicked off its inaugural season, marking a major milestone in the scattered history of the sport in the U.S. Sun-Times reporter Violet Miller stops by to explain more.
Say More with Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith, 10 a.m.
- ‘The Odyssey’: Christopher Nolan’s star studded adaptation of “The Odyssey” is on track to make $1 billion in its first month. The film is the latest version of Homer’s epic Greek poem. What classic film do you think is due for a reboot? Journalist and critic Brandon Pope, and callers, weigh in.
FROM THE PRESS BOX 🏈⚾🏀🏒
- Bears predictions: Before Monday’s first padded practice of training camp, and four weeks before cut day, here’s who could make the Week 1 roster
- Cubs get Gausman: The Cubs acquired veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman from the Blue Jays for two minor leaguers, outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene.
- Sox’ next move: After acquiring starter Luis Castillo, White Sox GM Chris Getz said he’s still looking to deal.
- Sky’s much-needed closer: After weeks of late-game heartbreak, rookie Sydney Taylor buried a deep three-pointer to stun the Aces on Saturday, keeping the Sky’s miracle playoff hopes alive.
- Hawks analysis: Why new Blackhawks prospect Xavier Villeneuve might be a future star — or might be a bust.
- Public League football: Jones College Prep, which until now was the largest Public League school without football, will begin play as a junior-varsity program Aug. 22 at Hersey.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today’s clue: ___ Ryan Expressway
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
Albany Park artist draws inspiration from science
Reporting by Genevieve Bookwalter
Before Renee Robbins became an artist, she wanted to be a marine biologist.
So when she was commissioned to paint the viaduct at DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Fullerton Avenue, she called experts at the Shedd Aquarium for insight on native Lake Michigan flora and fauna, and invasive critters, too.
The result is a massive spread in Lincoln Park that celebrates Lake Michigan’s natural history and intersects with her fantastical imagination.
“I’ve always been interested in water and creating a sense of awe,” Robbins said. “I hope the artwork can help inspire curiosity and a sense of awe to those that engage with it.”
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
As the Chicago mayoral race gets underway, what issue is most important to you? Tell us why.
Reply to this question viaemail (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.
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Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Michael Lansu
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