Afternoon Briefing: Lightfoot unveils Soldier Field dome proposal

Good afternoon, Chicago.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled three options for renovating Soldier Field today, including enclosing the stadium with a dome, in a bid to keep the Chicago Bears from departing for Arlington Heights.

And Pedro Flores, a Chicago drug trafficker who along with his twin brother helped federal authorities build a case against Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, testified today that he was promised his wife and other family members would not be prosecuted for any drug-related activities.

Meanwhile, 16 Chicago Housing Authority employees were fired and one has quit after an internal investigation over PPP pandemic loan fraud.

Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/breaking and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

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With convention and early primary date in play, battle brewing over state Democratic Party leadership

State Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez of Cicero has emerged as a challenger for the party chairmanship to U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson, who was narrowly elected in March 2021 to finish out the term of embattled and now indicted former chairman and House Speaker Michael Madigan. Read more here.

More top news stories:

Gov. J.B. Pritzker out of isolation after testing negative for COVID-19

ICYMI: Her office hit by the pandemic and morale issues, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx struggles to keep up with prosecutor exits

Downtown Chicago is awash in summer tourists. But a key driver of retail activity is missing: office workers.

The advent of COVID-19 vaccines unleashed pent-up demand, helping store owners lease new spaces across the metro area. But downtown, the pandemic has made clear just how essential one constituent is: the office worker. Read more here.

More top business stories:

About 2,500 Boeing workers to strike after rejecting deal

Millennials staying close to where they grew up: study

Column: Minnie Miñoso finally got his Hall of Fame induction. But the recognition for one of baseball’s trailblazers is far too late.

“Miñoso was electrifying,” writes Shakeia Taylor. “In 20 seasons of professional baseball, he hit .299 with 195 homers,1,089 RBIs and 216 steals and had a .387 on-base percentage.” Read more here.

More top sports stories:

NFL enters the media streaming marketplace with ‘NFL+’ service. Here’s what it means for fans.

3 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, including hope for Kyle Hendricks and Nelson Velázquez’s power

Yasmani Grandal ‘hyped up’ to return to the Chicago White Sox after more than a month out with injury

Review: The Weeknd’s sold-out show at Soldier Field was a blowout spectacle with lasers and pyrotechnics

“One of the most enigmatic artists to ever headline the lakefront stadium, the R&B singer — also known as Abel Tesfaye — turned detachment and dissociation into cause for celebration,” writes Bob Gendron. Read more here.

More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:

Susan Booth returns to Goodman Theatre as its new artistic director: ‘This is a time of seismic change’

‘Goodfellas,’ ‘Law & Order’ actor Paul Sorvino dies at 83

Former Indiana congressman among nine charged in insider trading cases

Former U.S. Rep. Stephen Buyer was arrested in Indiana on charges related to an insider trading case brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Manhattan federal court. Read more here.

More top stories from around the world:

Vice President Harris travels to Indiana to speak out on state’s proposed abortion ban

Majority of Americans favor term limits for Supreme Court justices, poll suggests