Good morning, Chicago. ✶
🔎 Below: Deep Tunnel, the city’s system of tunnels and reservoirs to handle flood waters, is nearly full for the first time in its history.
🗞️ Plus: The late business and hair products pioneer George E. Johnson is remembered, Illinois’ new AI guardrails and more news you need to know.
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⏱️: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER ☀️
Sunny with a high near 84.
TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎
Deep Tunnel has never reached limit, now is almost full after weekend of heavy rains
By Brett Chase
Tunnel vision: For the first time in history, Deep Tunnel, Chicago’s massive system of underground tunnels and reservoirs designed to hold floodwater, is almost completely full after a weekend of heavy rain.
Key context: Built more than half a century ago, Deep Tunnel sends floodwater from Chicago and nearby suburbs through more than 100 miles of tunnels into three reservoirs located just outside of the city. It was designed to help protect the river as well as Lake Michigan.
At capacity: The Thornton reservoir in suburban South Holland was at 94% capacity Monday. The McCook reservoir in southwest suburban Bedford Park fluctuated between 96% and 100% full. Between the two, they are holding around 11 billion gallons of water.
What’s possible: As a result, 11 suburban communities face river flooding threats: Blue Island, Calumet City, Dixmoor, Dolton, Glenwood, Harvey, Lansing, Phoenix, Riverdale, South Holland and Thornton, according to officials. In Chicago, sewer overflows into the Chicago River are also possible. The city’s sewers are a combined system of stormwater and wastewater, including everything flushed down the toilet.
GEORGE E. JOHNSON 1927-2026 ✶
George E. Johnson, founder of Johnson Products Company, dies at 99
By Mitch Dudek
Chicago pioneer: George E. Johnson, who founded Johnson Products Company — and with it a new universe of hair care products tailored to Black consumers — died Monday morning from natural causes at his Downtown Chicago condo, his son John Edward Johnson said. He was 99.
Hair care history: Mr. Johnson founded the company in 1954 and turned it into a multimillion-dollar business and a beacon of Black accomplishment. In 1971, it became the first Black-owned company to trade on the American Stock Exchange. His company, headquartered at 8522 S. Lafayette Ave., manufactured product lines including Ultra Sheen, Classy Curl, Curly Perm and Black Tie men’s cologne.
EDUCATION 🍎
Illinois’ newest state agency aims to improve early childhood services
By Emmanuel Camarillo
New department: Parents in Illinois who have long navigated a fragmented system to find daycare, preschool and other early childhood services can now look under one roof for the assistance they need. That’s due to the new Illinois Department of Early Childhood, which officially launched July 1 with the aim of untangling work that was previously done by three state agencies.
The details: The new agency is responsible for a range of state programs, including those that offer home visiting and early intervention services for babies and toddlers with developmental delays. It will also license and provide quality ratings for early learning programs. Part of the shift involved transitioning more than $1 billion in funds to a new unified grant system.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED 🗞️
- Holiday weekend violence: Chicago saw its least violent Fourth of July weekend in at least seven years, continuing a two-year decline in victims of violent crime during the Independence Day weekend. Still, five people were killed and 23 were hospitalized in shootings, assaults or stabbings citywide from Thursday through Monday, police said.
- AI regulations signed into law: Artificial intelligence companies will have to submit to third-party audits in Illinois and develop safety plans to avert potentially catastrophic effects of the burgeoning technology, after Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday enacted AI regulations that are the most stringent in the nation.
- Disgraced Rep. resigns: Pritzker on Monday also commented on the resignation of ex-state Rep. Harry Benton, D-Plainfield, saying Benton “made the right decision” to step down last week following unspecified misconduct allegations. It’s unlikely a report on the accusations will be publicly released.
- 7-ton glass desk for sale: The security desk designed by the late renowned architect Frank Gehry for the Inland Steel Building is now up for auction online, with its consignor looking to get between $100,000 and $200,000 for the work.
- Yacht see?: For the last few days, a 207-foot-long superyacht has been docked and attracting attention at the west end of Navy Pier. A source tells the Sun-Times the boat belongs to a corporate turnaround specialist and philanthropist.
ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN 📐
Bowen High gets recognized at last
Column by Lee Bey
High praise for high school: The Illinois National Register Advisory Council recently voted to recommend that the National Park Service add James H. Bowen High School in South Chicago, 2710 E. 89th St., to the National Register of Historic Places. The Park Service’s decision could come by September.
Key context: Built in 1910, Bowen High is among architect Dwight Perkins’ finest works. Its architectural doppelgänger, Carl Schurz High School on the North Side, made the National Register in 2011 and has been a protected city landmark since 1979. A National Register listing for Bowen would require renovations to preserve its historic character.
The design: Bowen is a wide four-story building clad in red and orange brick and terra cotta trim. The building has grace and visual power with its prominent overhanging gabled roofs, strong vertical lines and abundance of windows that let in natural light. “This Bowen/Schurz prototype was the first complete expression of the modern high school in Chicago,” the National Register nomination report said.
ON WBEZ 91.5 FM 📻
In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons, 9 a.m.
- Parathletes ready for national tourney: Local adaptive athletes are heading to Grand Rapids this week to compete in the largest national multisport tournament for players with disabilities. Adaptive sport veterans discuss the competition and how Chicagoans with disabilities can get involved.
- Updated exhibit: Paul Durica of the Chicago History Museum will give details about the reopening of the museum’s “Facing Freedom” exhibition.
Say More with Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith, 10 a.m.
- John Mulaney: The comedian, writer and actor will talk about his stand-up tour coming to Wrigley Field and answer callers’ questions.
FROM THE PRESS BOX ⚽🏀⚾
- U.S. knocked out of World Cup: With a 4-1 loss to Belgium, American hopes for a deep World Cup run ended in Seattle. Ahead of the match, we caught up with Chicago fans who lined up in West Loop to cheer on the U.S.
- Skylar gets her digs in: Skylar Diggins unleashed her frustration in a post online — “Now I’m coming off the bench?????? Cool” — creating the latest Sky sideshow.
- He’s passed all that: Cubs reliever Ryan Rolison, who knows how to handle a football, now is quarterbacking a batter career chapter with the North Siders.
- Back on even Teel: Despite missing most of his first three months, White Sox catcher Kyle Teel has found his hitting stroke quickly, writes Jeff Agrest.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD 🌭
Today’s clue: 7A: Surname of two Chicago mayors
BRIGHT ONE 🔆
World Cup-themed ‘The Soccer Show’ proves Chicago improvisers can spoof anything
By Mike Davis
Chicago may not be a host city for the World Cup, but it arguably has the next best thing besides loads of watch parties hosted at bars: “The Soccer Show,” built on the city’s tradition of improv and sports spoofs.
Local comics Ian Mullen and Max Kantor are curating the improv variety show every Saturday of the World Cup at Annoyance Theatre. The production celebrates the global sporting event with tongue-in-cheek banter and commentary on the week’s matchups — but also blends sketches and improvised bits to tickle both dedicated soccer fans and locals whose familiarity with the game comes via social media posts.
Mullen, the show’s director and co-host, said the show was in the works for a year after they looked at the calendar and predicted a “soccer crazy summer.” Originally, Mullen and Kantor planned on penning a soccer-themed musical. With time running short, they settled on the idea of a variety show.
“The idea was basically, what can we do that’s fun? I don’t want to say an easy lift, but something that’s fun and can change every week with the World Cup. And here we are,” Mullen said.
Kantor said the show is “controlled chaos,” adding that it’s “avant-garde a little bit,” as the duo both have classic comedy backgrounds. The goal is for even non-soccer fans to have a great time.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
Standup, improv and beyond: What’s the most memorable comedy performance you’ve seen in Chicago? Tell us why.
Reply to this question via email (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: Eydie Cubarrubia
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