Good morning, Chicago.
Whether or not the White Sox make it deep into the playoffs this season, there’s one thing you can never take away from them: They’ll always have Pope Hat night.
Two seasons after setting an MLB record for futility with a record 121 losses, the White Sox are in the postseason, the fans are back in the fold and the team is leveraging its success with increased attendance, TV ratings and some very creative promotions.
Throw in some divine intervention with the first Chicago pope confessing his allegiance to the South Siders, and the Cinderella story has captured the nation’s imagination.
“Everyone knows who we are,” said Brooks Boyer, White Sox executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “We’re America’s team right now.”
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Robert Channick.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what to know about a deadly shooting at Oakbrook Center, what happened in yesterday’s White Sox and Cubs games and our picks for what to do in Chicago this weekend.
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Chicago-area election officials gear up for potential ICE, FBI presence at the polls after Trump threats
Citing recent comments by President Donald Trump and top administration officials, voting rights activists and Democratic officials have filed at least two lawsuits in federal court in Washington that seek to block what they contend is a “polling place policy” that would allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and FBI agents to operate in or around polling places.
At the same time, local county clerks and election officials in Illinois have stepped up planning for various scenarios involving federal activity at the polls.
- Pete Hegseth says national security and military cyber forces will guard US election systems during midterms
- Illinois voter guide to the 2026 midterm elections in November
Police: 1 dead, 1 injured in shooting at Oakbrook Center
A shooting yesterday at Oakbrook Center mall in Oak Brook left a man dead and a woman injured, authorities said.
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The shooting happened around noon in a parking lot near the L.L. Bean store, Oak Brook police Chief Brian Strockis said.
‘Record divergence’ between economic data and Americans’ views, Chicago Fed president says
Despite stable economic data, Americans increasingly view the economy negatively — so the Federal Reserve will need to track their views less closely in its policymaking, the Chicago Fed president indicated yesterday.
“We’re experiencing record divergence between the vibes and the hard data,” said Austan Goolsbee, an alternate member of the Fed committee that sets interest rates this year.
At City Club, Mayor Brandon Johnson asks why rich put profits over ‘the lives of my neighbors’
Mayor Brandon Johnson accused the city’s corporate class of ignoring Black and brown lives yesterday in a wide-ranging speech to a crowd of business leaders who cheered his ideas but greeted with silence his promise to pay for them by taxing the rich.
The appearance at the City Club of Chicago was Johnson’s first major public speech since announcing his reelection campaign a little over two weeks ago, and signals that he is entering his fight for a second term — and his fourth budget — with as feisty a message as ever.
City to launch Michigan Avenue bus lane
CTA bus riders traveling northbound on Michigan Avenue in the Loop will soon ride in a dedicated bus lane, the city announced yesterday.
The new bus lane, which officials hope will make bus travel faster, will span almost 1.5 miles of Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road to the south and Wacker Drive to the north. It will be located only on the northbound side of the street.
Chicago Public Schools cancels lower-level football games over unpaid referees but says varsity will play
Chicago Public Schools has canceled some lower-level football games this week because of an issue with referees not getting paid, drawing the interest of at least one state representative and Illinois High School Association officials.
But the district said yesterday afternoon that varsity games scheduled for today through Saturday this week will not be affected and that there will be no further cancellations.
Chicago White Sox complete sweep for 1st playoff series win since 2005 — and face Cleveland Guardians next
The White Sox completed a 2-0 sweep of the wild-card matchup against the Houston Astros to advance to the American League Division Series, in which they’ll play the Cleveland Guardians. That best-of-five series begins Saturday at Progressive Field.
- Column: White Sox have made converts out of everyone — including Jerry Reinsdorf
- Game 2 photos: White Sox sweep the Astros to advance in the playoffs
Chicago Cubs quickly KO’d from playoffs after bats quiet again in 4-1 loss to San Diego Padres
Major League Baseball’s best offense in the regular season will be watching the rest of the playoffs from home.
After a season defined by extreme highs and lows, the Cubs played from behind in all but one inning and were swept in a National League wild-card series against the San Diego Padres with a 4-1 loss last night.
What to do in Chicago: Doja Cat, Le Sserafim and the West Town Art Walk
Here are our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.
The Banchet Awards announce 2027 chef and restaurant finalists in Chicago
The 2027 Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence have announced finalists in 12 categories plus three special recipients, including two pioneering chefs and an iconic deli in Chicago.