Good afternoon! Milk Bar has lastly opened in Fulton Market and is providing a Chicago-exclusive pastry-wrapped “Sizzling Canine Bomb.” Right here’s what else you must know in the present day.
1. Some Chicago eating places are charging further for eggs to deal with hovering prices
The newest chook flu outbreak is resulting in an egg scarcity and inflicting eating places to pay practically triple the standard value, Amy Yee studies for the Chicago Solar-Instances.
A yr in the past, 15 dozen eggs value about $31 however are actually $105, stated Joel Nickson, chef and co-owner of Wishbone close to Fulton Market. The restaurant not too long ago added a surcharge of 75 cents on egg dishes and 50 cents on hen gadgets to offset prices.
In the meantime, Cebu, a Filipino American diner in Lake View, final week briefly raised costs on brunch gadgets with eggs. The restaurant added $1 to the worth of breakfast burritos that usually value $16 to $18. [Chicago Sun-Times]
The rising costs are partly as a result of chook flu — often known as avian influenza or H5N1 — has been spreading amongst poultry throughout the nation.
The virus additionally impacts wild birds, cows and different animals. This week, a whole lot of geese have been discovered lifeless alongside Lake Michigan. You may learn extra about chook flu — together with the way it spreads and the potential threat to people — within the hyperlink. [WBEZ]
4 years in the past, Pritzker signed the Local weather Equitable Jobs Act, which dedicated the state to one of the vital aspirational local weather targets within the Midwest on the time. By 2050, the state would section out fossil fuels in favor of unpolluted vitality.
However from electrical automobiles to renewable vitality, Illinois is lagging — and the state faces much more challenges with the Trump administration’s waning help for clear vitality, my colleague Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco studies for WBEZ.
Earlier than the laws, the state had dedicated to counting on renewable sources for 1 / 4 of its vitality by 2025, based on John Delurey, managing director of campaigns on the nationwide advocacy group Vote Photo voltaic. However as of 2023, renewable vitality solely made up about 13.5% of electrical energy technology in Illinois. That determine must greater than double over 5 years to meet up with impending deadlines.
In the meantime, the state set a goal of 1 million electrical automobiles on the street by 2030. So far, solely about 100,000 EVs have been added in Illinois since Pritzker signed CEJA. Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental well being applications at Respiratory Well being Affiliation, advised WBEZ there aren’t sufficient detailed year-by-year targets to assist meet the goal. And the state’s rebate program hasn’t stored up with demand.
In an announcement to WBEZ, a spokesman for the governor stated, “Formidable targets require a considerate, well-planned method and CEJA prioritizes working with communities to create a clear vitality infrastructure that may stand the check of time.” [WBEZ]
3. Lurie Kids’s Hospital has paused gender care surgical procedures for these youthful than 19
The transfer comes after President Donald Trump’s government order that stated the U.S. authorities would reduce federal funding from suppliers who supply this sort of care, my colleague Kristen Schorsch studies for WBEZ.
“As a part of our complete evaluation of the Government Order, we have now made the tough resolution to pause gender care surgical procedures inside the gender care program for all sufferers beneath the age of 19 as we work to grasp the quickly evolving atmosphere,” Lurie spokesperson Julianne Bardele stated in an announcement. “We’re persevering with to supply different care and therapy plans for this system’s sufferers, as we monitor additional developments on this challenge.”
The remedies impacted embody hormone remedy and puberty blockers to delay modifications to an individual’s physique. Lurie helps sufferers discover different hospitals the place they’ll have their surgical procedures carried out.
Although Illinois’ Human Rights Act requires well being care suppliers to supply medical care to all residents and prohibits illegal discrimination on the idea of intercourse, together with gender id, Lurie depends closely on federal funding. [WBEZ]
The assertion comes after the academics union stated the arbitrator’s report confirmed CPS has cash to spare. District leaders stated the findings as a substitute “confirmed the district’s extreme monetary constraints,” my colleagues Sarah Karp and Nader Issa report.
Nonetheless, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez stated yesterday the 2 sides are near an settlement for a brand new contract. He stated negotiations have helped cut back CTU’s proposals, but in addition stated the union continues to be asking for greater than the district can afford.
CPS officers have been responding to suggestions launched Wednesday night by an arbitrator introduced in as a part of the authorized course of required earlier than the CTU can name a strike. The CTU rejected the findings on Wednesday, which begins a 30 day clock to once they can strike — although union leaders haven’t but scheduled a strike authorization vote. [WBEZ/Chicago Sun-Times]
5. Up-and-coming rock expertise and jazz greats fill Chicago levels this month
WBEZ contributor Mark Guarino compiled a listing of 9 reveals to get you out and provide you with hope that spring is across the nook. The checklist deliberately prioritizes the world’s small and midsize venues and up-and-coming or neglected expertise.
First up, Dee Alexander and Jumaane Taylor play the Harris Theater this night and tomorrow afternoon. The double billing highlights two compositions devoted to religious romance: “It’s All About Love” — a set of unique compositions by jazz vocalist Dee Alexander and musician John McLean, primarily based on Alexander’s West Aspect childhood — and “Supreme Love,” a dance tribute to A Love Supreme, John Coltrane’s landmark album launched 60 years in the past this January, by Chicago faucet dancer Jumaane Taylor.
Later this month, catch Sima Cunningham of folk-pop duo Finom at Robert’s Westside, the place she’s going to showcase works from her lively solo profession.
You may see the total checklist within the hyperlink. [WBEZ]
Right here’s what else is occurring
- Right here’s a roundup of what the Trump administration did this week. [NPR]
- And right here’s a information to Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl, together with the way to watch and who’s performing. [NPR]
- U.S hiring slowed to 143,000 jobs final month, whereas the unemployment fee dropped barely to 4%. [New York Times]
- The Westminster Kennel Membership canine present begins tomorrow. [AP]
Oh, and another factor …
Neko Case is a singular voice in music. Throughout 11 albums, she has crafted a canon of songs which are sharp, haunting and weak.
Case, who was raised within the Pacific Northwest however lived in Chicago within the Nineteen Nineties, has written a brand new memoir referred to as The Tougher I Struggle, The Extra I Love You, Cassie Walker Burke and Lisa Labuz report for WBEZ.
Within the e book, Case talks brazenly about her isolating childhood and her lengthy journey to embracing her id as a musician. She additionally writes poignantly about her love of the outside and animals — and the way her love of the pure world has helped her overcome nervousness and grief. [WBEZ]
Inform me one thing good …
February is a month to have fun love and friendship a little bit further. So I’m questioning, what’s your story of the way you met somebody — whether or not it’s a big different or an in depth pal — within the Chicago space?
Jessica writes:
“My husband and I met at a Billy Strings live performance at Backside Lounge. Each exhausted and annoyed by courting apps, it was a pleasant change of tempo to fulfill the quaint manner. After making eyes at one another on the dance ground, he approached me and twirled me round discovering out that we have been each dancers! Afterwards, he merely received my quantity and was gone a couple of minutes later. We didn’t formally go on our first date for a number of weeks as we have been each fairly busy with different commitments, however that live performance modified our lives. We moved in collectively 8 months later, received engaged and married, have a one yr previous, and I’m pregnant with our 2nd baby!”
Catherine writes:
“My pal Hannah and I had met one another our senior yr of highschool by way of a mutual pal, and it was straightforward dialog from the primary time we met. We have been each transferring to Chicago for school within the fall, and we made a pact and join with one another as soon as we moved. They have been dwelling in Rogers Park and I used to be dwelling in Little Italy, so we made it some extent to fulfill at the very least as soon as a month someplace in between us. What adopted have been years of exploring so many alternative neighborhoods collectively — espresso retailers, e book shops, a jazz efficiency at Constellation, comedy performances, and parks all throughout the town, together with the time we tried to fulfill one another on the Montrose Level Chicken Sanctuary however Hannah’s telephone had died so we needed to belief in blind religion that we’d each find yourself on the identical spot (I did discover them, fortunately!). We ended up dwelling collectively for a yr (which can also be how I met one other of my closest associates, Hannah’s roommate Marah) and nonetheless journey throughout the town, particularly for weekly trivia in Wicker Park!”
Sharon writes:
“Met my husband on a blind date, the one one I ever had. The guy who set us up was 5’4”. I, a senior highschool lady, was pushing 6 toes. When my faculty date walked within the door and needed to bend his head, I placed on the high-heeled footwear!
We went collectively on and off for seven years attributable to household circumstances and faculty and so on. We married in Could 1970. For 28 years he introduced me a purple rose each week. When he died I gave a purple rose to every of the boys who got here to his wake suggesting that they discover one thing to provide, frequently, to their sweetheart. Hubby believed that each week confirmed love, for 28 years. My household doesn’t take a look at a purple rose the identical manner ever since. My son now brings me a purple rose for particular days like Valentine’s Day.”
And Doug writes:
“I met my spouse after my realtor advisable Carson Pirie Scott furnishings gallery, who advised me it was simply exterior of my new residence in St. Charles on Freeway 59. I spent practically two hours searching for it — the shop was really in Naperville, half an hour away — as my GPS couldn’t acknowledge the deal with I supplied. Twenty minutes earlier than closing time (9pm), I made a decision to show left right into a parking zone, figuring I had handed the shop however would possibly coax the reply from my GPS if I wasn’t attempting to drive on the identical time. I handed a retailer on the road and appeared up — and noticed the Carson retailer signal, straight forward of me. I walked in and it was my spouse’s flip in gross sales to fulfill the shopper. (“Nice. A buyer is available in 20 minutes earlier than closing, and I work on fee.”)
After my divorce, I had a whole home to fill with furnishings, but with a 90-minute commute from my office, I couldn’t get to the shop greater than an hour earlier than closing. It turned a operating joke that I used to be all the time the final buyer to go away. Clearly, we loved our time speaking and operating by way of the shop collectively furnishings. After 8 months and half a dozen extra important junctures, we realized we wished to spend the remainder of our lives collectively, even when it is just thirty or so years. We’ve been collectively now 15 years, and he or she’s nonetheless the love of my life. Thank goodness I received misplaced for 2 hours till it was my spouse’s flip in gross sales to greet me.”
Thanks for all of the responses this week! Although I might solely embody a handful of them, I learn all of your tales (and should have teared up a couple of instances).
