Good morning, Chicago.
U.S. News & World Report released its annual hospital rankings this morning, ranking two Illinois hospitals among the top 20 hospitals in the nation and tying for best hospital in the state.
U.S. News & World Report releases its list of best hospitals in the country annually. High-performing hospitals often pay close attention to their U.S. News & World Report rankings, touting their performance in advertising aimed at attracting more patients in the competitive Chicago area health care market.
This year, U.S. News & World Report ranked 504 hospitals among the best in their regions after looking at the performance of 4,400 hospitals across the country. U.S. News ranks hospitals based on data, including death rates, preventable complications and levels of nursing care.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Lisa Schencker.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including Illinois’ latest gun control measures, how Cubs fans and the baseball world are remembering Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg who died at 65 and a look at Gen Z and wine culture.
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Gunman kills 4, including police officer, in shooting at New York City office tower
A man stalked through a Manhattan office tower firing a rifle yesterday, killing four people, including a New York City police officer, and wounding a fifth before taking his own life, officials said.
The shooting took place at a skyscraper that is home to the headquarters of both the NFL and Blackstone, one of the world’s largest investment firms, as well as other tenants.
‘Tired of forcing children to duck and cover,’ Gov. JB Pritzker signs two more gun control measures
With gun violence still a persistent problem despite recent drops in Chicago, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a pair of gun control efforts into law yesterday — one that requires Illinoisans to more quickly report lost firearms and another mandating law enforcement agencies statewide participate in a federal gun tracing platform.
Hate crime charges filed against suspect in ‘ICE rules’ vandalism in Little Village
Felony hate crime charges have been filed against a 38-year-old man who allegedly spray-painted three buildings in Little Village with swastikas and “ICE rules” graffiti earlier this month, police announced.
Parking space minimums eliminated in much of Chicago, change aimed at adding housing density
In what proponents say is a pivotal change to how housing gets built in much of Chicago, developers will now have an easy option to dedicate less space to cars after the City Council eliminated parking minimums near public transit.
Builders putting residences within a half mile of a Chicago Transit Authority train or within a quarter mile of a bus line will soon no longer need special approval to completely forgo parking spaces. Following the mid-July vote, the new standard appears to cover roughly three-quarters of the city.
ComEd closes $10M customer relief fund after 70,000 applications
Three weeks after launching, the $10 million ComEd customer relief fund has run dry.
ComEd said it has received about 70,000 applications for the one-time grants, which provide up to $500 for residential customers and $1,000 for nonprofit organizations to offset skyrocketing electric bills amid a spike in supply charges and increased demand during the summer heat. The fund is now closed to new applications.
Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer, dies at 65 after cancer recurrence
Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who redefined the position with a rare blend of power, speed and defense during his 15-year Chicago Cubs career, died yesterday at age 65.
He passed away surrounded by family at his home in Illinois, the Cubs announced.
- Column: Ryne Sandberg left a legacy at Wrigley Field — and the Chicago Cubs and their fans were better for it
- ‘One of the all-time greats’: Baseball world reacts to Ryne Sandberg’s death at 65
Chicago Cubs give President Jed Hoyer a multiyear contract extension
Cubs President Jed Hoyer and the team agreed to a multiyear contract extension, the Cubs announced.
Hoyer, 51, has been in the role since November 2020, when he was promoted to take over from the departing Theo Epstein. Now in his 14th season with the Cubs, Hoyer joined the organization as general manager in November 2011 to reshape the franchise alongside Epstein, ultimately rebuilding the roster into a World Series champion.
William Burghardt, actor, director and critic who taught at Naperville North High School, dies
William J. Burghardt was a playwright and author who spent a dozen years as a theater critic and entertainment editor for local newspapers before returning to college at age 45 to pick up a teaching certificate and spending the rest of his career teaching high school English, drama and American studies in Naperville.
Column: New Richard Hunt exhibit takes the measure of the artist and the man
Sharing a floor gallery space with a Sister Jean made of Legos is one of the most important exhibitions of any season, a compelling display of the work of the late Richard Hunt, captured and celebrated with style and substance, writes Rick Kogan.
It does not, can not, show the work for which Hunt was most famous, the gigantic metal sculptures that dot the country. There are 160-some of these here and elsewhere, a number that makes Hunt the artist with more public sculptures and monuments in the U.S. than any other. But this is a show that allows you a more intimate encounter with the man and his work.
Is Gen Z destroying wine culture?
Gen Z is an easy target. Born between 1997 and 2012, they’ve been blamed for everything from the downfall of skinny jeans to the end of basic phone etiquette. And now, if headlines are to be believed, they’re destroying the wine industry too. Health-conscious, sober-curious and strapped for cash, they say, Gen Z barely drinks. And if they, do, they’re skipping wine in favor of hard seltzers, cocktails or cannabis infusions.
But is Gen Z truly to blame for wine’s decline? Or are they simply the most visible face of a broader cultural shift?
