Good afternoon, Chicago.
NBCUniversal will open a horror-themed attraction across from Bally’s casino, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced this afternoon in what would be the brand’s first entertainment venue in the Midwest.
The “year-round immersive horror experience” will be titled Universal Horror Unleashed and sit in the vacant 114,000-square-foot building at 700 W. Chicago Ave., according to city officials. It is slated to open in 2027 and will receive tax credits from a state program.
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
Gov. JB Pritzker makes it official at South Side rally: He’s running for a third term to be Illinois’ chief executive
In a nearly two-minute video, as well as an in-person kick-off event on Chicago’s South Side this morning, JB Pritzker made his third formal pitch to Illinois voters, saying he wanted to “keep Illinois moving forward” while also presenting himself as a bulwark against President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape America. Read more here.
More top news stories:
- 3 dead, 3 injured in extra-alarm fire in Austin neighborhood
- Man fatally stabbed on CTA train in Des Plaines
Whole Foods officially opens in downtown St. Charles
Located at 300 S. Second St., the long-awaited St. Charles outpost of the Austin, Texas-based grocery store fills a space in the downtown that has been empty since 2022: the site of the old Blue Goose Market. Read more here.
More top business stories:
- Pringles maker Kellanova’s shares rise after US regulators approve its proposed merger with Mars
- Lincoln Park 4-bedroom penthouse with rooftop terrace and misting system: $2.2M
Who is Noa Essengue? 6 things to know about the Chicago Bulls’ No. 12 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
Without any NCAA playing experience, Noa Essengue is one of the lesser-known names to be selected with a top 15 pick. So why did the Bulls take a swing on him? And what does his future look like in Chicago? Read more here.
More top sports stories:
- Chicago Bulls trade down in the 2nd round of NBA draft
- 4 players with Illinois ties were picked in 1st round of NBA draft. Here’s what to know about them.
Artists provide the soundtrack for Gary bus riders
On Wednesdays and Fridays, “Arts on the Move” performers including a dance troupe, musicians and artists, are stationed at stops along the GPTC’s Rapid Bus Route along Broadway offering popup performances to uplift riders during their day. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
- Adam Sandler’s tour will bring him to the United Center
- Review: ‘Always Something There …’ at Marriott Theatre is a fun and escapist cavalcade of ’80s hits
Robert F. Kennedy’s vaccine committee endorses preservative-free fall flu shots
The Trump administration’s new vaccine advisers endorsed this fall’s flu vaccinations for just about every American but threw in a twist: Only use certain shots free of an ingredient antivaccine groups have falsely tied to autism. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world:
