Good morning, Chicago.
With the future of West Suburban Medical Center still up in the air, local faith leaders, doctors and employees gathered in front of the hospital yesterday to demand it be reopened with the community’s needs in mind.
The Oak Park hospital closed abruptly in March, with owner and hospital operator Dr. Manoj Prasad saying he had to shutter the facility because of problems with its billing system. Prasad has said he’s resumed offering some outpatient, clinical services and hopes to reopen the hospital in phases this summer.
But his landlord and business partner Reddy Rathnaker Patlola has alleged that Prasad mismanaged the hospital, and Patlola wants to put a different operator in place to reopen the facility.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Lisa Schencker.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: the latest Chicago Media Report, what Chicago Fire player has made the U.S. World Cup roster and 2026 Critic’s Choice winners announced.
Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History
Hawthorne Race Course alleges Illinois official steered funds to rival track amid bankruptcy battle
About three months after filing for bankruptcy, representatives for Hawthorne Race Course are alleging they are losing out on state funding because a top official in Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration — with the influence of his brother, a lobbyist — has been steering money to a rival racetrack, according to court papers filed last week.
Lobbyist John Costello, the brother of Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello, yesterday called the allegations “defamatory” in a prepared statement.
Chicago Memorial Day weekend ‘teen trends,’ mass gatherings end in violence, spark backlash
Memorial Day weekend in Chicago closed out with a massive “teen trend” in Hyde Park that led to dozens of arrests and a shooting that wounded three men, officials and police sources said.
The so-called “trend” — one of the massive, social media-fueled gatherings that have become a marquee topic in the city’s public safety discussion as summer gets underway — took place at 57th Street Beach Monday night, capping a weekend that saw 23 shooting incidents and 36 people wounded, police said.
- Chicago man charged with first-degree murder in grandfather’s shooting
- Person of interest in custody after teen fatally wounded in triple shooting on Southwest Side: police
- Chicago man charged in connection with death of toddler who shot himself
Attorneys, alleged victim call for upgraded charges against ICE agent accused of misdemeanor battery
A group of attorneys have called on State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke to upgrade a misdemeanor battery charge that is pending against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent to a felony, questioning why the case was filed as a misdemeanor in light of what they said were aggravating circumstances.
White Sox merch, giardiniera among Chicago-themed gifts delegation to present Pope Leo XIV
A White Sox-emblazoned kippah. A Chicago sanctuary city pin. Bottled giardiniera. But not a Cubs hat.
Those are some of the several personal items Chicago leaders have said they will hand-deliver to Pope Leo XIV tomorrow, when Mayor Brandon Johnson will lead a delegation to the Vatican in his biggest international trip so far.
Chicago Media Report: CBS News Radio anchor signs off, record ratings for CHSN and WGN-TV anchor finds new gig
CBS Radio pulled the plug on its century-old network Friday, ending its top-of-the-hour news service to 700 stations across the country, including WBBM-AM 780, which actually flipped the switch to ABC News a day early, denying Chicago listeners one last chance to hear the iconic five-note CBS network news sounder.
It also silenced, at least for now, radio veteran Jennifer Keiper, who for the past 5½ years has anchored the network’s afternoon and evening newscasts from her Chicago studio. She signed off Friday as the penultimate voice of CBS News Radio, which ceased broadcasting at midnight.
Nomination deadline for Chicago Top Workplaces 2026 is Friday
There are just a few more days to submit nominations for the Chicago Tribune’s annual Top Workplaces awards. The final deadline is Friday.
For the 17th year, the Chicago Tribune will honor outstanding workplace culture in the region. Any organization with 75 or more employees in the region is eligible to compete for a Top Workplaces award. Standout companies will be honored in fall 2026.
Chicago Bears Q&A: Will they sign a defensive end before training camp? Is the stadium saga near the end?
The voluntary offseason program continues for the Bears today with the first of six scheduled organized team activities at Halas Hall.
While action ramps up on the field, the pressure is building in the Bears’ stadium push. The Tribune’s Brad Biggs covers both sides of the organization in this week’s Bears mailbag.
Chicago Fire GK Chris Brady makes the US World Cup roster — along with surprises from coach Mauricio Pochettino
A native of Naperville, Chris Brady becomes the Chicago Fire’s first homegrown player and academy graduate named to a World Cup roster. He is the club’s third player named to the USMNT roster as an active member of the Fire.
Obama Center announces public festivities for grand opening weekend
Free public events have been announced for the grand opening weekend of the Obama Presidential Center. According to an announcement on Wednesday from the Obama Foundation, the grounds will be full of live performances, family activities, food and speakers, making for a festival of sorts on the 19.3-acre campus in Chicago’s Jackson Park neighborhood.
Tribune Food Awards: The 2026 Critic’s Choice winners
For our Critic’s Choice Awards this year, we’re recognizing not just chefs (or categories that once served us, but now seem limiting). We’re awarding places as a collective of their people who have inspired us with their extraordinary culinary achievement through dedicated ethical work.
They represent the best of us in this moment with deliciousness and daring and hope.
