Good morning, Chicago.
At least two tornadoes have been confirmed in Illinois as the entire Chicago metro area remained under a tornado warning on Thursday.
National Weather Service officials confirmed Thursday evening that two tornadoes had torn through parts of the state, including one in areas southwest of Streator and another near Dwight. Weather officials said they were also getting reports of a tornado causing damage in Merrillville, Indiana.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Tess Kenny and Deanese Williams-Harris.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including Illinois’ medical-aid-in-dying law now facing a federal lawsuit, how young people are searching for new ways to stay “phone-free” and what to know as the World Cup begins.
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Hillary Clinton urges grassroots movement at Rainbow PUSH, warns of ‘revolution to turn the clock back’
Hillary Clinton used an audience at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s annual convention to lash out at the Trump administration yesterday, saying Democrats must combat a “revolution to turn the clock back,” a revolution that she said is eroding the building blocks of civil and voting rights established decades ago.
Illinois medical-aid-in-dying law faces federal lawsuit from disabled patients, doctors before September start
A federal lawsuit filed yesterday challenges a new Illinois law set to go into effect in September that would allow doctors to prescribe medication to terminally ill people to end their own lives.
Multiple states drop out of President Donald Trump’s ‘Great American State Fair’
At least five states have declined to take part in the Great American State Fair, one of President Donald Trump’s marquee events scheduled to begin this month to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday.
New protections on the way for patients against sexual abuse, misconduct by healthcare workers
State oversight failures exposed in a Tribune investigation drove a package of major changes to state law aimed at better protecting patients from sexual abuse or other inappropriate conduct by doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who first proposed the legislation more than a year ago, called the final version of the bill, which the legislature approved late last session, “frankly revolutionary.”
Cook County settles with family of man who hanged himself in jail cell
The Cook County Board yesterday approved a $4.5 million settlement to the family of a man who hanged himself while in custody at the Cook County Jail.
Michael O’Connor’s family sued under the state’s Wrongful Death Act, alleging the Cook County sheriff’s office fell short in monitoring O’Connor, who had a history of mental illness and was a well-known suicide risk when he died at the Southwest Side facility on Christmas Day in 2023.
Northwestern Hospital makes the case to Streeterville residents for a massive new cancer complex
Northwestern Memorial Hospital officials met with Streeterville residents Wednesday night and said they have worked to address concerns about the hospital’s proposal to build a 1.2 million-square-foot tower on a vacant lot.
In nightlife venues and college classrooms alike, young people search for new ways to stay ‘phone-free’
The number of phone-free experiences grew by 567% globally in 2024 and 2025, according to Eventbrite, a platform where organizers can advertise events.
In Chicago, this trend has taken various forms: everything from creative spaces relegating devices to cotton bags and locked boxes to phone-free raves moshing into the morning’s wee hours.
Chicago baseball report: Newcomers add to ‘special’ White Sox vibe, while Javier Assad pitching in for Cubs
The White Sox began yesterday in first place for the first time since the end of the 2021 season, while the Cubs were struggling to get back on track after falling from 15 games over on May 9 to .500 entering their series finale in Denver.
It has been a roller-coaster season on both sides of town, with one team going up and the other down since they met in the City Series last month.
- 3 takeaways from the Chicago White Sox-Atlanta Braves series, including Davis Martin bouncing back into form
- Seiya Suzuki and Alex Bregman finally deliver big home runs for Chicago Cubs in 9-3 win to avert sweep
World Cup begins with Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0 in opening match
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez helped Mexico make an exuberant start to the World Cup yesterday, scoring a goal each in a 2-0 win over South Africa in the opening match of the tournament.
With a capacity crowd of 80,824 watching at iconic Azteca Stadium, co-host Mexico started the largest World Cup tournament in history by getting goals in each half while three red cards were shown — two for South Africa and one for Mexico.
- World Cup: US strikers look to end scoring woes when team opens its group play Friday
- Shakira, Andrea Bocelli and Salma Hayek kick-start the World Cup at opening ceremony in Mexico City
New Sugarwater festival will have house, techno, juke and footwork — just in time for Juneteenth weekend
Carrie D. loves obligations. As an academic, a nightclub manager and the founder of the event series Club Hospitality, Carrie loves nothing more than being in service to her people. That’s why she felt called to create Sugarwater, a new three-day festival arriving just in time for Juneteenth weekend.
Sugarwater focuses on celebrating Black culture at the intersection of house, techno, juke and footwork, styles of electronic music rooted deeply in Chicago and the Midwest.
