Good afternoon, Chicago.
Linda Jones-Woodley tried everything to clean the bedroom. She’d vacuum the floor, wash the linens and dust each object in the room. But when her grandson used to visit a lot in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, he would break into coughing fits.
He had asthma, and Woodley, 73, assumed dust was the culprit of his attacks. That was until her Westchester house was remodeled last year through a free Cook County program, and black mold was identified in the cracks of the bedroom’s windows.
Woodley was one of 357 participants in Healthy Homes for Healthy Families, an initiative providing free house upgrades to families living in 51 municipalities in suburban Cook County.
Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History
Woman, 32, critically injured in Southwest Side traffic shooting; alderman calls it ‘apparent road rage’
More Top Picks Best Compression Boots For Circulation
The 32-year-old victim was wounded while riding as a passenger in a car traveling in the 2400 block of West 47th Street in the Brighton Park neighborhood around 9:30 a.m., according to Chicago police. Read more here.
More top news stories:
- Mayor Brandon Johnson turns in signatures for 2027 mayoral race, skipping lotteries for ballot spots
- Will County health officials investigate E. coli cases linked to pumpkin farm
Nurses at Endeavor Health’s hospitals in Evanston, Glenview, Skokie, Highland Park move to unionize
Nurses at Endeavor Health’s north suburban hospitals filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board yesterday to hold a union election — a move that could lead to the unionization of more than 2,400 nurses. Read more here.
More top business stories:
- Lake County Plan Commission tables data center amendment
- All elevated Loop ‘L’ stations to close for weekend construction work, CTA says
Chicago Bears and their fans celebrate Mike Ditka with giveaways and other tributes: ‘He was the guy’
The Bears had several fan events and tributes to the team’s late legend during yesterday’s prime-time game against the New England Patriots at Soldier Field. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
- Chicago Bears TE Cole Kmet will miss the rest of season with a knee injury
- Is the high volume of shots Spencer Knight sees a burden or blessing for the Chicago Blackhawks goaltender?
Review: Home is where the memories are in Billy Crystal’s ‘860’ on Broadway
On Jan. 25, 2025, Billy Crystal’s Los Angeles home of 46 years burned down due to the Palisades Fire, part of the massively destructive wildfires that torched a hefty chunk of Southern California. And yet, remarkably enough, you leave Crystal’s sweet, laugh-filled new solo show, “860,” the title an homage to his address, actually envious of Crystal. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
- Vintage baiduhai: Tootsie Roll, Milky Way, Baby Ruth, candy corn and more Halloween treats made here
- V.V. Lightbody returns to the spotlight with new album ‘Period Piece’
Trump administration files lawsuit to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race
The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit to block certification of the Senate race in Alaska if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses the contest while another candidate, a former Chicagoan with the same name, is on the ballot, kicking off what many have feared could become a lengthy battle between the U.S. government and states over certifying an election where the president’s party is struggling. Read more here.
More Top Picks Best Garden Stools With Wheels For Seniors
More top stories from around the world: