Good morning, Chicago. Yesterday, Illinois officials reported some of the lowest coronavirus numbers we’ve seen since the beginning of the pandemic. There were 244 new and probable cases of COVID-19 and 14 additional deaths recorded, while the seven-day statewide positivity rate dropped to 1.1%.
As Chicago approaches a full reopening, some of the city’s biggest hotels are also preparing to reopen their doors. Here’s a look at how the third-biggest hotel plans to welcome back guests for the first time in nearly 15 months.
Meanwhile, in contrast with some of the city’s plans for big events later this summer, the village of Oak Park announced its annual Fourth of July parade and fireworks have been canceled, citing a need to take a “cautious approach” to hosting large events during the summer.
— Nicole Stock, audience editor
Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
For your smart speaker | Join our COVID-19 Facebook group | More newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Daily horoscope | Ask Amy
More Top Picks Best Gaming Keyboards
| Today’s eNewspaper edition
When Chicago and Illinois enter phase five Friday it will be the first time in more than a year that there are no limitations on the size of gatherings and most public activities.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker confirmed the plans for a full reopening. Pritzker said it this way: “Thanks to the hard work of residents across the state, Illinois will soon resume life as we knew it before — returning to events, gatherings and a fully reopened economy, with some of the safety guidelines we’ve adopted still in place.”
So what will it look like? Here’s a guide for what to expect.
With just two weeks left to the school year, teachers at the city’s Urban Prep Academies’ three charter high schools hit the picket line Monday, striking over what educators say is a lack of support for special education students.
The strike was declared after Urban Prep administrators and the Chicago Teachers Union were unable to land an agreement during a weekend bargaining session, CTU spokesperson Chris Geovanis said.
As Northwestern searched for an athletic director to fill the role Jim Phillips held for more than a decade, Derrick Gragg’s name came up as a wish-list candidate. When the university reached out to request an interview, he decisively passed, preferring to concentrate on his fairly new job as the NCAA vice president for inclusion, education and community engagement.
Northwestern eventually promoted former deputy athletic director Mike Polisky — and a fiasco ensued, leading to Polisky’s resignation only nine days after his hiring was announced. It gave Northwestern another shot at Gragg. This time, he reconsidered.
Many people have gotten used to a more hands-off approach to grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic, ordering staples online and minimizing trips to the store.
Bob Mariano, the former head of some of Chicago’s biggest grocery chains, is betting some are eager to get back to shopping — and dining — in person. His new store, Dom’s Kitchen & Market, is set to open this morning. The team is already planning additional locations with a goal of growing the model in the Chicago area before expanding elsewhere.
Niquenya Collins cooks irresistible food — just ask fans of her takeout-only restaurant Cocoa Chili, her family and the guy who once stole some right off her backyard grill, Tribune food critic Lousia Chu writes.
More Top Picks Presto Pizzazz Plus
Cocoa Chili has appeared on nearly every best and hot restaurant list in the city since opening in February. The beautifully executed dishes have not necessarily developed from family recipes or global travel — but many are born from Collins’ careful study of food that is quintessentially Chicago.
The best fast-food fried chicken sandwiches of 2021 ranked, including two new options from Hardee’s