This week started with honoring our moms and those who have acted as a motherly presence in our lives. Now the countdown to the official start of summer begins — and Mayor Brandon Johnson has unveiled his own travel plans. But before we look forward to warm weather, vacations and backyard barbecues, let’s first catch up on the news.
President Donald Trump, members of his cabinet and several American CEOs visited China this week. The leaders of both nations met for talks and said progress was made during the trip to stabilize relations, although Beijing showed little interest in getting more involved in the war with Iran. On that front, on Monday, Trump rejected an Iranian peace proposal and said the existing ceasefire agreement was on “life support.” Later in the week, tensions flared again over the Strait of Hormuz after one ship was seized and another sank following an attack.
Back stateside, Americans are facing increased costs as a result of the war. The latest consumer price report showed inflation increased 3.8% year-over-year, driven largely by soaring energy costs. Gas is above $4 a gallon nationally and the price of electricity is at record highs.
In Washington, D.C., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was grilled by lawmakers over the war, the administration’s goals in Iran and its growing price tag — which has ballooned to $29 billion. Meanwhile, the Senate confirmed Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve, the head of Border Patrol announced his resignation, and the Supreme Court upheld access to mifepristone, a common drug used in abortions. Down in South Carolina, the murder convictions of Alex Murdaugh, the disgraced lawyer accused of killing his wife and son in 2021, were overturned by the state’s Supreme Court.
New U.S. Census estimates were released this week, and Chicago remains the third largest city in the U.S. The city gained 5,253 residents in the year leading up to July 1, 2025, but has lost three times that since 2020. See the data on your city, town or village, here.
Chicago Public Schools is rolling out its school-level budgets for next year. In doing so, the cash-strapped district announced Tuesday it will cut teaching staff in an effort to close its $732.5 million deficit. The news was met with outcry from union leaders, some school board members and the mayor. Elsewhere at City Hall, aldermen advanced a plan to delay an ordinance ending subminimum tipped wages.
Schedules for the upcoming NFL season were released Thursday, with teams announcing their opponents in creative reveals posted to social media. The Chicago Bears broke the news with a spoof of Bob Ross’ painting tutorials, titled “Happy Little Matchups,” starring Rome Odunze and his iconic ‘fro. The team’s schedule features seven nationally televised contests, including Thanksgiving and Christmas Day games against division rivals.
Plus, the tide has turned for Chicago’s baseball teams. Following their 10-game winning streak, the Cubs went on a four-game skid. On the South Side of town, the White Sox matched their season high with five consecutive wins and inched above the .500 mark. Now, the two teams take on one another in this weekend’s City Series — with bragging rights and winning steaks on the line.
And Chicago lost a real legend this week. Sam Sianis, the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern and of “cheezborger, cheezborger, cheezborger” fame, died early Friday. He was 91 years old.
Without further ado, here’s the Tribune’s Quotes of the Week quiz, from May 10 to 16. Missed last week? You can find it here or check out our past editions of Quotes of the Week.
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