Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: West Suburban Medical Center owner Dr. Manoj Prasad defends his leadership of the now-closed hospital — but inspection reports show it was struggling to care for patients and keep the heat on.
🗞️ Plus: More Chicago Housing Authority turmoil, a local engineer helps launch Artemis II and more news you need to know.
📝 Keeping score: The Bulls fell to the Pacers, 145-126; the White Sox were blanked by the Marlins, 10-0; the Cubs beat the Angels, 6-2.
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⏱️: A 7-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER 🌧️
Showers with a high near 70.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
West Suburban Medical Center struggled to treat patients months before closing
By Kristen Schorsch and Kaitlin Washburn
Bold promises: Dr. Manoj Prasad, owner of West Suburban Medical Center, pledged to do everything he could to reopen the safety net hospital by this summer as he defended his leadership in a wide-ranging, combative and chaotic news conference Wednesday. State Rep. La Shawn Ford, whose district includes West Suburban, organized the press conference with Prasad, and said he was there as a representative for the community.
Our findings: Hospital inspection reports obtained by WBEZ and the Sun-Times paint a picture of broader problems at the Oak Park facility, one that shows a hospital struggling to take care of its most critically ill patients — and even keep the heat on — in the months before West Suburban closed.
Health care headache: Prasad temporarily suspended services at West Suburban last week, saying he had no choice because the hospital’s electronic medical record system was not properly billing for services. But in February and March, the hospital was investigated by the federal government twice for “immediate jeopardy,” a serious allegation meaning inspectors believed patients could be at risk of serious harm or death.
Key context: Patients, lawmakers and community leaders have criticized how abruptly West Suburban closed March 25. The for-profit hospital mostly treats low-income and elderly patients. The majority are Black or Hispanic. But there were signs that West Suburban was unraveling. Prasad had closed his other hospital, Weiss Memorial in Uptown, in August.
IMMIGRATION ✶
Immigrant leaders are anxious as Supreme Court hears arguments on birthright citizenship
By Mark Sherman and Adriana Cardona-Maguigad
Major case: The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday took up one of the term’s most consequential cases, President Donald Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship declaring that children born to parents who are in the U.S. illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. A definitive ruling is expected by early summer.
Community on edge: Immigrant leaders in Chicago say they’re anxious about the case and what the outcome could mean for families across the country. Grace Chan McKibben, executive director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, said many communities are worried that some children could lose their legal status or end up with no legal status at all.
In the hot seat: Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued the government’s case, facing one skeptical after another. The justices asked about the legal basis for the order and voiced more practical concerns.
More on immigration:
- A DePaul University student was charged with spitting on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent working at O’Hare Airport. His lawyer said it may have been unintentional.
- Joabe Barbosa, a Brazilian runner who has jogged on nearly every street in Chicago, is facing departure as his student visa expires.
PUBLIC SAFETY 🚨
Top cop bullish on study calling for hundreds more police officers
By Sophie Sherry and Fran Spielman
Call for cops: A staffing study released Wednesday calls on the Chicago Police Department to put hundreds more officers on the street, although the long-awaited plan could be hampered by labor contracts and the city’s financial crisis. Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said the proposed changes would allow for better supervision, greater opportunities for community policing and more consistent response times across neighborhoods.
Labor lens: The study, commissioned by the City Council two years ago, also recommends shifting 600 officers to the streets from jobs that can be filled for less money by civilians. But the department’s collective bargaining agreements with police unions could limit its ability to make any sweeping changes.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- Next landmark?: The former Chicago Daily News building, an Art Deco structure that has eluded landmark status for decades, will be recommended Thursday for the designation, opening the door for public subsidies to help fund a $70 million renovation.
- CHA turmoil: The fight between Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Housing Authority Board Chair Matthew Brewer over the agency’s future escalated Wednesday when Johnson said he removed Brewer from his board chair role, while Brewer said he wasn’t going anywhere.
- New programs for teens: The Obama Presidential Center will kick off youth programming this summer with opportunities for South Side teens to play sports and build leadership skills. The coed programs are part of an initiative with the nonprofit After School Matters.
‘AMERICA 250′ 🇺🇸
Illinois arts groups line up for federal ‘America 250’ money to tell versions of history
By Erica Thompson
Birthday plans: America celebrates its 250th birthday July 4. Local audiences can expect a wave of patriotic programming in spring and summer, from a live reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Newberry Library to a staging of the musical “1776” by DLO Musical Theatre in Danville.
Federal funds: As part of a change in its guidelines, the National Endowment for the Arts shifted its focus last year to funding initiatives that celebrate the milestone. About 20 Illinois cultural groups received money through the NEA’s “America 250” emphasis totaling $661,000 — about half of the state’s $1.2 million haul.
Key context: In his second term, President Trump has focused on U.S. history and culture, including instituting an unprecedented review of materials at Smithsonian museums after deeming some displays on race, slavery and queer history “divisive.” The federal funding has forced cultural groups to reckon with a tough question: How far can you go to interrogate the full and complex history of the country while also celebrating its progress?
Local programming: The city and state are rolling out their own slate of programs, too: Illinois America 250 and the Chicago America 250 initiatives will feature public art installations, exhibits, music festivals, educational tours and more — here are some highlights.
LET’S HEAR FROM YOU 🗣️
How would you like to see Chicago and Illinois commemorate America’s 250th birthday?
Reply to this email (please include your first and last name). We may run your answer in a future newsletter or story.
FROM THE PRESS BOX ⚾🏈🏀🏒
- White Sox home opener delayed: A rainy forecast means fans will see the Sox play against the Blue Jays on Friday afternoon. Chance the Rapper is set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
- Bears stadium saga: Legacy and tradition won’t stop the Bears from potentially moving to Indiana, team owner George McCaskey said: “I don’t think, in the end, it’s going to matter to people.”
- Jaden Ivey fallout: The Bulls would like to move on after waiving Ivey following anti-LGBTQ+ comments, but there are still lingering questions.
- Making moves: The Sky traded second-round picks with the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo.
- Anton Frondell impresses: After burying his first goal Tuesday against the Jets, Frondell is the first Blackhawks rookie to tally five points in his first five games since Artemi Panarin in 2015.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today’s clue: 1D: Major League ___ (Chicago Hounds org.)
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
Chicagoan helps launch Artemis II, NASA’s first moon mission in 53 years
By Violet Miller
Amy Lendian, a Chicago resident, remembered watching Apollo 8 lift off in 1968 as she shook off nerves heading to work Wednesday morning.
She was set to enter the control room at the Kennedy Space Center for what could have been a 16-hour shift. Her mind was on the mission from 58 years ago, which helped turn her dreams toward the stars.
Now 67 and the acting systems engineer manager for the Artemis II lunar orbital mission, who had been the fire suppression and console engineer for the Artemis I rocket, she was thinking back on that 9-year-old girl who watched “almost the same” mission in which she would play a part Wednesday.
“As a kid I wanted to be an astronaut,” Lendian said. “ So for me this has a very special meaning.”
Lendian was called out of retirement to helm a team of four engineers in the control room, monitoring systems that range from water and electrical to fire suppression in case of an emergency — a much larger task with an actual crew onboard. Artemis I was unmanned.
Artemis II is the opening shot of NASA’s grand plans for a permanent moon base. Three Americans and one Canadian are set to fly around the moon without stopping or even orbiting — then head straight back for a Pacific splashdown. The rocket took off shortly after 5:30 p.m. without issue, starting the astronauts’ 10-day journey.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
Yesterday, we asked you: What’s the best burger you’ve had in Chicago?
Here’s some of what you said, edited for length and clarity…
“My favorite burger in the city is the Bacon Jam Smashburger from Lucy’s in Uptown. The bacon jam and garlic aioli combo is mouthwatering!” — Kaitlin Janis
“Top Notch Beefburgers in Beverly. No fancy toppings. Just delicious tasting burgers ground in-house, and the perfect bun. I love it with the sharp American cheese. Great fries and shakes. It’s been my favorite for decades.” — Edward Zelnis
“Hands down (actually two hands down then up to your mouth) is Monk’s Pub’s Bacon Swiss Burger with a slice of raw onion and a tomato … Been going there for 40 years. The other places listed in your article may be good but they are too expensive and fancy. Give me old school every time.” — Stan Kaderbek
“Gretel. I’ve never seen a burger with foie gras and egg before. It’s a $50 burger and it’s the best burger I’ve ever had.” — K. Tecun
I had a burger at BurgerBelly years ago that was done in conjunction with Gale Street Inn. It was called the Leadbelly Burgers Rib’n Bleus Burger. It contained [sriracha] bleu cheese slaw, a giant patty made of fresh beef ground with smoked pork belly, a quarter-slab of baby back ribs … and a pile of fried onion straws, all on their house made bun. It was a full seven inches tall and I honestly don’t know how I got my mouth around it, but I did and it was spectacular!” — Michael Oelrich
PICTURE CHICAGO 📸
A crowd watches the Artemis II launch at the Adler Planetarium on Wednesday.
Giacomo Cain/Sun-Times
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Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
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