Good afternoon! I’m already seeing leaves altering in Chicago, and we’re simply weeks away from peak fall foliage. Right here’s what else it’s worthwhile to know right this moment.
1. A Metropolis Council member has proposed lifting Chicago’s ban on canine in eating places
Proper now, Chicago eating places are prohibited from serving patrons accompanied by canine — both indoors or open air — until that buyer has a service canine. A proposed ordinance from Ald. Timmy Knudsen (forty third) would change that.
As my colleague Fran Spielman studies for the Chicago Solar-Instances, the Council member from Lincoln Park needs to throw a monetary bone to eating places preventing for survival amid rising meals and labor prices.
Though the ban is extensively ignored and sporadically enforced, normally in response to a grievance, restaurant homeowners permit canine at their very own danger and typically face the results.
Knudsen mentioned he drafted the ordinance on the behest of a Clark Avenue cafe proprietor whose eat-in French bakery was tied up for hours by “back-to-back” metropolis inspections triggered by a patron grievance concerning the presence of canine within the eatery.
Illinois Restaurant Affiliation President Sam Toia mentioned Knudsen’s ordinance “could need to be tweaked a bit bit,” maybe to incorporate some restrict on the variety of canine allowed inside. However Toia welcomed the potential boon to restaurant enterprise. [Chicago Sun-Times]
As two federal brokers tried to revive a Mexican immigrant who was dying from gunshot wounds, one in all them sought to clarify the taking pictures.
“He tried to run us over,” the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer mentioned in physique digicam footage captured by a Franklin Park cop arriving on the northwest suburban taking pictures scene Sept. 12.
Video obtained by the Chicago Solar-Instances exhibits the blue denims of the opposite federal agent have been left bloodied and torn, and he informed native police that he was “dragged a bit bit.”
Talking over a radio, the federal agent who informed police that Villegas González tried to make use of his automotive as a weapon mentioned his companion had suffered “a left knee damage and a few lacerations to his arms.”
“Nothing main,” the injured agent mentioned.
However quickly after the taking pictures, the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety reported the agent “sustained a number of accidents” and was “significantly injured” when he was “dragged a major distance” by Villegas González’s automotive as he fled a site visitors cease. DHS officers mentioned the agent had opened fireplace, fearing for his life. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Officers are additionally struggling to maintain up with state and federal deadlines to warn folks of the dangers posed by lead, Keerti Gopal and Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco report. Lead plumbing can leach the poisonous metallic into ingesting water, inflicting mind injury, developmental delays and different harms.
Chicago has greater than 412,000 confirmed and suspected lead service traces — essentially the most within the U.S. — however replacements are lagging. Town doesn’t anticipate changing all its pipes till 2076, about 30 years after a federal deadline.
Water division officers say they’ll’t afford to maneuver as rapidly as federal deadlines require, however Division of Finance debt supervisor Brendan White mentioned thousands and thousands of federal and metropolis {dollars} obligated for replacements haven’t been used but.
Since 2023, town has drawn $70 million to $90 million of an roughly $325 million federal mortgage for lead service line replacements that expires subsequent 12 months, White mentioned, including that town expects to spend far more rapidly in 2026. [Inside Climate News/WBEZ/Grist]
4. An appeals courtroom weighing Illinois’ assault weapons ban challenged Trump’s civil rights boss
The U.S. Division of Justice’s high civil rights official rejected a federal appeals courtroom’s previous resolution to uphold Illinois’ assault weapons ban, arguing in courtroom yesterday that the AR-15 and comparable weapons are “clearly” protected by the Second Modification.
However Assistant Legal professional Normal Harmeet Dhillon additionally discovered herself being questioned by Decide Frank Easterbrook, who had joined the 2023 resolution that has helped hold the legislation in place. He requested Dhillon whether or not a decrease courtroom decide’s fact-finding affected her view.
When she mentioned it didn’t, Easterbrook retorted, “You don’t assume the information matter.”
“Info, in fact, do matter,” she informed him.
Dhillon, the top of the Justice Division’s civil rights division, took the bizarre step of touring to Chicago to briefly take part within the arguments earlier than the seventh U.S. Circuit Courtroom of Appeals. Her portion of the 90-minute listening to lasted about 5 minutes. [Chicago Sun-Times]
The monthslong “America’s Received Expertise” journey of the all-boys choir will come to a detailed this week, Ambar Colón studies for the Chicago Solar-Instances.
The choir levels its ultimate efficiency throughout tonight’s finals competitors, however America received’t discover out till tomorrow whether or not the boys stroll away with the $1 million grand prize. The voting interval begins at 5 p.m. tonight and ends at 6 a.m. tomorrow. Followers can forged as much as 10 particular person votes both on-line or by way of the NBC app.
Members of the 18-person choir have beforehand mentioned they might put the cash towards their faculty bills.
The choir acknowledges the “large platform to primarily change a story that not solely Black and brown folks get but in addition your complete metropolis of Chicago will get,” 17-year-old Leo senior Steven Jackson mentioned.
“There’s extra to us than simply what folks could have heard or seen within the information,” Jackson added. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Right here’s what else is going on
- President Donald Trump warned world leaders on the United Nations Normal Meeting of “uncontrolled migration” and accused the U.N. of contributing to the issue. [NPR]
- TV station teams Sinclair and Nexstar, which management 20% of ABC’s native associates, mentioned they may indefinitely proceed to preempt late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s present. [New York Times]
- Employees at Chicago’s Griffin Museum of Science and Trade introduced that union members have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike, if crucial. [WBEZ]
- Evaluation: Courtroom Theatre’s “Massive White Fog” is an formidable snapshot of historical past with a shocking forged. [WBEZ]
Oh, and another factor …
“Twilight Override” — musician Jeff Tweedy’s fifth solo album, out Friday — is the sort of report that exists by its personal guidelines, WBEZ music contributor Mark Guarino writes.
Quiet areas, people guitars, choruses of interlocking voices, bursts of frenetic rock guitar power and even spoken-word poetry are hallmarks of 30 songs that stretch throughout three discs.
Collectively, they really feel like a end result for Tweedy, referencing acquainted chapters from his previous however pushing them into a completely new course. Tweedy thought-about it a “luxurious” to indulge within the triple report, an artwork type that doesn’t have many profitable parallels. Not solely did the venture permit him to string a higher variety of various musical concepts collectively, however he additionally curated the songs for a cohesive set of tales. [WBEZ]
Inform me one thing good …
I like fall-themed treats, particularly in espresso. So I’m questioning, what’s your favourite Chicago-area espresso store with an ideal autumnal beverage? It may be a pumpkin spice latte, apple cider or one thing extra distinctive.
Samantha writes:
“For a pleasant cafe if you happen to’re ever on the South Facet I like to recommend Cadinho; it’s a cute little spot in Mckinkley Park. I all the time get their Rose latte.”
Jessie writes:
“I’ve to shout out October Cafe in Norwood Park. Their fall drinks are usually not solely scrumptious, they’re out there year-round! They usually provide flights of their hottest fall drinks if you happen to, like me, simply can’t resolve.”
Be happy to e mail me, and your responses could also be included within the e-newsletter this week.
