Good morning, Chicago. There were 1,633 new cases of COVID-19 in Illinois yesterday, according to health officials, and 28 additional deaths. There was a huge jump in the number of vaccines reported yesterday — 117,381 doses were recorded administered Tuesday — but that number is so high because of the data delays that skewed the daily numbers this week.
Meanwhile, news of reopenings also continued yesterday — this time in the transportation department. Metra announced its plans to restore Saturday service to pre-pandemic levels beginning Memorial Day weekend, and Amtrak said its Illinois train service to Milwaukee and other cities is set to return to full schedules in the coming weeks.
In other news, my colleague Josh Noel reported yesterday that the city’s beer industry is facing a reckoning amid claims of sexual harassment. The Chicago-based Cicerone Certification Program — which certifies beer professionals globally — has suspended an employee accused of what it calls “indefensible behavior.” Read his full report here.
— Nicole Stock, audience editor
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The Illinois State Board of Education has adopted a resolution requiring daily in-person learning next school year with limited exceptions for remote learning. The vote came after several parents asked the board to reject the proposal in consideration of children who may still be too young in the fall to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday announced a deal with aldermen to create an online database of closed complaints against Chicago police officers, but the city’s government watchdog quickly labeled the plan inadequate.
The announcement came as the head of the City Council Public Safety Committee said he expects this week for the Lightfoot administration to submit to him the mayor’s long-awaited civilian police oversight proposal.
CPD rank-and-file cops issue no-confidence vote for Mayor Lori Lightfoot and police Superintendent David Brown
Mayor Lori Lightfoot chooses only reporters of color for interviews ahead of 2-year-anniversary, sparking debate over media diversity and access
Hotels are ramping up after Tuesday’s announcement that Chicago’s largest music festival, Lollapalooza, will return to Grant Park at full capacity July 29-Aug. 1. The return of large events has given hotels confidence, but it comes with the grim prospect that a full hotel recovery isn’t expected until 2024, Michael Jacobson, president and CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, said.
Lollapalooza 2021 lineup released: Megan Thee Stallion, Post Malone, Foo Fighters, Miley Cyrus, DaBaby, Journey and more to headline
Rex Huppke column: Lollapalooza is back! Navy Pier is reopening! Time to get out and … can we still stay 6 feet apart?
Michael Libberton felt like a U.S. citizen his entire life. After all, since arriving in the U.S. from Colombia in 1978 as a toddler brought here for adoption by his parents, he assumed he was. Five years ago, he found out he wasn’t.
Despite being adopted by U.S. citizen parents, federal law has limited citizenship options for some international adoptees. A bill introduced in March, and supported by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., would ensure all internationally adopted children can become citizens.
When Tribune food critic Nick Kindelsperger spoke to the co-owners of Oooh Wee Is It, the wait was over two hours. That’s impressive for any restaurant, Kindelsperger writes, especially for one that just opened its doors Feb. 28. But behind the restaurant’s phenomenal success has been years of hard work, a successful pandemic pivot and one incredible sweet tea recipe.
Michelin-starred restaurant Yugen closing in West Loop of Chicago
