Good afternoon! The newsletter will take the day off tomorrow for the holiday and will be back Friday. If you’re traveling, be prepared for record-breaking crowds. Here’s what else you need to know today.
Tomorrow will be the first time the northern suburb has hosted the parade since the 2022 shooting that left seven people dead and dozens more injured, my colleague Michael Puente reports for WBEZ.
“We are not a weak community. We are a strong community,” Highland Park resident and community activist Ashbey Beasley told the station.
The parade route will be slightly different, bypassing where the shooting happened. Highland Park City Manager Ghida Neukirch said planning for this year’s 1 p.m. parade — with the theme “Sweet Home Highland Park” — took into consideration feedback from victims, residents and businesses.
Meanwhile, some residents are opting for a quiet day at home.
“I know some people who are at the shooting who … the thought of attending a parade is still very difficult for them,” said the Rev. Quincy Worthington, a minister at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. “And then I know people who also are like, ‘Hey, we should just move on and go back to normal.’ I think the city is in a tightrope situation. I think they’ve done an excellent job of walking that way.” [WBEZ]
2. JB Pritzker and other Democratic governors will meet with President Joe Biden tonight
The governors insisted on hearing directly from Biden about the status of his reelection campaign in the wake of an abysmal debate performance, my colleague Tina Sfondeles reports for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Biden is planning to meet with Pritzker and the other governors in the Roosevelt Room of the White House at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Many of the governors are serving as Biden campaign delegates and key messengers in critical states yet said they hadn’t heard from the president since last week’s debate.
There are growing calls for Biden to give up his reelection bid — but the campaign has insisted there are no plans for him to drop out.
Appearing on CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” last night, Pritzker said he plans to support Biden “unless he makes a different decision.” Pritzker is on some shortlists as a potential Democratic presidential replacement [Chicago Sun-Times]
3. A Chicago psychic was accused of stealing more than $70,000 from a client
Prosecutors claim that Jennifer Williams, who offered psychic readings in Lake View, convinced a California woman she was cursed and offered to “cleanse away curses” for money totaling around $72,200 over the course of four months, Mary Norkol reports for the Chicago Sun-Times.
The psychic promised to return the cash later, according to court records.
Williams, who lives in Phoenix, turned herself in after a warrant for her arrest was issued this spring. She pleaded not guilty yesterday in Cook County. [Chicago Sun-Times]
4. An audit shows Chicago’s unfunded pension debt has soared to $37 billion
This is the second straight year the pension crisis has grown by more than 5%, intensifying pressure on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s year-old pension commission to produce long-term solutions, my colleague Fran Spielman writes for the Chicago Sun-Times.
The city’s unfunded liability rose from $35.4 billion to $37.2 billion — thanks to “changes in pension assumptions and legislation,” according to the certified annual financial report for 2023 by the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche.
The Firefighters Pension Fund once again hovers closest to bankruptcy, with assets to cover just 21.6% of liabilities, followed by Police (21.79%), Municipal Employees (22.2%), and Laborers Pension Funds (38.55%).
The city was counting on $200 million in annual revenue from a permanent casino to stave off bankruptcy of the police and fire pension funds, but that project looks increasingly unlikely. [Chicago Sun-Times]
5. Jack in the Box will return to the Chicago area for the first time in decades
The fast food chain plans to open eight company-owned restaurants, including one near Midway Airport and the rest in the suburbs, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Countryside, Lake in the Hills, Tinley Park, Carol Stream, Naperville, Plainfield and New Lenox will receive the other seven stores, and most are slated to open next year.
Eventually, the company wants to have 125 locations in the Chicago area, the Tribune reports. The chain is aggressively expanding nationwide and internationally and currently has stores in 22 states. [Chicago Tribune]
Here’s what else is happening
- Here’s what to know about the national elections held in the U.K. today. [NPR]
- At least 121 people died in a crowd crush in northern India. [CNN]
- New data shows an increase in police traffic stops across Illinois in 2023. [WBEZ]
- The Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese was named to the WNBA’s All-Star Team. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Oh, and one more thing …
For al fresco dancing, nothing beats Chicago in the summer. The city’s longtime SummerDance series, which runs from June through September, skips around to various neighborhood parks and provides a live band soundtrack — for free — with lessons at the start.
And an enthusiastic live dance scene powers nights around the city. If you want to put on your dance shoes every night, you can — and likely have multiple options.
But with so much to do before the season ends, it’s helpful to know where the best parties are. Luckily, WBEZ contributor Lauren Viera put together a list of nine of the best as part of this year’s Summer Guide. [WBEZ]
If you’re looking for more suggestions for things to do this summer, text FUN to 312312 for a weekly pick.
Tell me something good …
From a favorite backyard cookout dish to a prime fireworks viewing spot (or less traditional plans), what’s your favorite way to celebrate the Fourth of July in the Chicago area?
Louise writes:
“I celebrate the Fourth by playing in a marching band in one of the local parades. I play tuba, and love to make music, and a parade is a great way to share that with lots of people — close to home and for free! I’m in the Northwest Concert Band and we’ll be in the Rolling Meadows parade.”
Feel free to email me, and your response may be included in the newsletter this week.
