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What Chicago is talking about
infrastructure
Chicago was under a heat advisory on September 2, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees by early afternoon and heat indices expected to exceed 100. During a scheduled lift for the Spirit of Chicago cruise vessel, the DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge over the Chicago River could not fully close because heat-related thermal expansion affected its operation. Later that day, the Torrence Avenue Bridge over the Calumet River experienced a separate heat-related failure before crews restored service.
via chicago.suntimes.com·9h agoDetails →
development
Gary broke ground in April 2025 on a $35 million YMCA and Boys & Girls Club campus at the former Tolleston Middle School site. The 91,000-square-foot Tolleston Opportunity Hub is intended to combine youth development, education, recreation, wellness, and health services. Its construction was supported by city and partner funding, an Indiana READI grant, and the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation.
via gary.capitalbnews.org·9h agoDetails →
infrastructure
Amtrak is proposing to move its existing Chicago maintenance operation from the South Loop to a site on Canal Street between 33rd and 35th streets in Bridgeport. Neighbors in Bridgeport and nearby Chinatown say a round-the-clock facility could worsen noise, diesel pollution, traffic and property values. Amtrak says the purpose-built facility would improve railcar servicing, reduce disruptions and shorten turnaround times, while the project still requires city approvals.
via nbcchicago.com·9h agoDetails →
community
Shedd Aquarium took in rescued belugas from a Canadian marine park that had closed and ceased operations, as part of an international effort to find homes for 30 whales. Eight female rescued whales had arrived at Shedd by late August; Peekachu died shortly after arrival, followed by Rain, another rescued whale, and Beethoven, a longtime resident of Shedd’s beluga pod. The causes of the latter two deaths had not been determined as of Sept. 2, with necropsies and laboratory testing underway.
via sheddaquarium.org·9h agoDetails →
weather
A supercell outbreak on March 10, 2026, produced giant hail in and around Kankakee County, alongside tornadoes. A family in southeast Kankakee preserved a 6.6-inch hailstone, allowing Northern Illinois University researchers to measure it and submit it for review. The State Climate Extremes Committee recommended recognition in August, and the National Center for Environmental Information approved it as Illinois’ official record for hailstone diameter, volume and weight.
via weather.gov·9h agoDetails →
public safety
A shooting during a large gathering in Chicago’s Washington Park left one man dead and at least 13 other people injured, according to WGN’s report. The shooting began about 11:37 p.m. Saturday as police were attempting to disperse the gathering; police said their investigation was ongoing. WGN’s web headline and social post describe a $30,000 reward, but the article body instead attributes an up-to-$10,000 reward to Cook County Crime Stoppers, leaving the reward amount unresolved in the available evidence.
via wgntv.com·9h agoDetails →
sports
The Chicago Bears have been weighing a new-stadium project after years of debate over remaining in Chicago or relocating. In June, the team’s board of directors voted to advance a proposed stadium development in Hammond, Indiana, near Wolf Lake; the move was not described as a final decision. Indiana lawmakers had previously offered taxpayer-backed financing and tax incentives for a potential project.