Block Club Chicago

Chicagoans experienced a heat wave and poor air quality due to Canadian wildfire smoke, while mourning victims of ICE-related deaths in Texas and Maine. The week also featured community events, including a Pride Parade and a statue regilding in Jackson Park.

New safety improvements, including a four-quadrant gate system, are being installed at the Nagle Avenue Metra crossing in Norwood Park following multiple fatalities and accidents since 2010. Union Pacific began construction on July 6, with completion expected by July 27, and the crossing will be closed during the work.

Sip & Savor's Edgewater location, which opened in 2023, has permanently closed, marking the chain's third shutdown since December. Owner Trez Pugh III described the decision as 'bittersweet' and hinted at a new location, while two other previous locations in Bronzeville and South Loop have also closed. Remaining Sip & Savor locations are in Bronzeville and Hyde Park.

A 13-year-old boy was wounded in the leg during a drive-by shooting in Portage Park on Monday evening. He was treated at the scene by the Chicago Fire Department and is in good condition at Lutheran General Hospital. No arrests have been made, and the incident remains under investigation.

Block Club Chicago hosted an inaugural workforce development and career fair in Austin, featuring over 30 community partners like JPMorgan Chase and Rush University Medical Center. Mayor Brandon Johnson emphasized community investment to create economic opportunities, while BUILD Chicago's CEO highlighted the need for workforce development to address economic challenges. The event included resume reviews, mock interviews, and resources for job seekers.

A piping plover chick named Mavis, one of four hatched in mid-June at Montrose Beach, has died. The Great Lakes piping plovers are a federally endangered species, and conservation efforts in Chicago aim to protect the birds. The Chicago Piping Plovers group expressed the emotional impact of the loss while emphasizing ongoing conservation work.

About 300 Border Patrol agents with extensive experience participated in Operation Midway Blitz in the Chicago area, using force including tear gas, tasers, and lethal shots. Their incident reports often contradicted body-camera footage, and leadership, including Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino, supported their aggressive tactics. Agents cited 'Presidential Executive Orders' as justification for their actions.

Humboldt Park’s four out of five public restrooms are open for the summer season, including a long-closed facility near basketball courts that reopened after renovations. Advocacy from neighbors and officials contributed to the reopening, though the Boathouse restrooms remain closed.

Mike Quigley launched his Chicago mayoral campaign at the Uptown Theatre, using its dilapidated state as a metaphor for the city's potential. He highlighted pension issues and zoning reform in a campaign ad, with supporters attending the event.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe opened in the former Uncharted Books location in Logan Square, marking the first franchise location in Chicago with ordering kiosks. The cafe, owned by Cesar Coronado and Marion Sullivan, aims to revitalize the previously vacant storefront and capitalize on neighborhood investments.

Kennedy Park’s 50-meter pool in Chicago will open to the public on Thursday after a week-long delay caused by a faulty liner. Repairs were completed, and the pool will host a full-day schedule of swimming activities, including open swim, senior swim, and lap swim sessions.

H&H Bagels, a New York City-based bagel chain, opens its first Chicago location in Fulton Market on Thursday. The store will offer New York-style bagels and menu items like the Bacon, Egg and Cheese and Nova Salmon with 'The Works,' with the CEO highlighting Chicago's food culture as a key reason for the expansion.

Alderman Brendan Reilly proposes an honorary street designation for Barack Hussain Obama on Wabash Avenue, including the stretch where Trump Tower is located. The initiative follows a petition gaining over 22,000 signatures and aims to recognize Obama without the cost of a full street name change. Mayor Brandon Johnson supports honoring Obama while alive, aligning with the proposal.

Airbag thefts targeting Honda vehicles have surged in Avondale and the Northwest Side, with over 1,200 reported thefts from January to April 2026. Victims like Rebecca Lang and Jose Luis Arroyo face high repair costs and long wait times for rare airbag replacements. Ald. Gilbert Villegas proposes an ordinance to curb the black market trade of stolen airbags, which are sold for $3,000–$5,000.

Four Great Lakes piping plovers have hatched at Montrose Beach in Chicago, with the chicks being the offspring of Sea Rocket and Imani. Conservation groups emphasize the need for observers to maintain distance and manage trash to protect the birds. Previous nesting attempts by the same parents faced challenges, including predation and chick mortality.

An explosive device detonated in front of Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez’s home in Pilsen, shattering a window. Sigcho-Lopez described the incident as 'political violence,' while police called it a 'suspected firework.' The alderman, running for Congress as a Democratic Socialist, reported prior threats and doxxing, raising concerns about political targeting.

A 21-year-old man, Martin Isaac Cantu Murillo, was fatally shot in the Ford City Mall parking lot during a street racing gathering early Saturday. The shooter, who fled in a red SUV, opened fire on Murillo around 2:50 a.m., and no arrests have been made. The mall, set to close on June 22 due to safety issues, has been the site of unauthorized events as businesses vacate the property.

The remaining three residents of a Logan Square homeless encampment are being relocated by Friday to allow construction of a public plaza at 2550 N. Milwaukee Ave. Residents, including Ray who has faced housing instability and mental health challenges, express distrust in the system, highlighting Chicago's ongoing struggle to provide adequate housing.

Transcripts from the Broadview Six grand jury proceedings were released, revealing prosecutor errors that led to the collapse of a felony conspiracy case against six protesters. The case, involving a September protest outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, saw charges dropped after a judge found misconduct including improper juror interactions and vouching.

Anosh Ahmed, a former Loretto Hospital executive, is seeking to dismiss fraud charges related to a $300 million scheme involving fake COVID-19 testing. He faces additional charges of embezzling $15 million and steering $19 million in contracts through corrupt means. Ahmed, a fugitive in Serbia since 2023, is part of the 'Broadview Six' case, with motions alleging prosecutorial misconduct.

The Western Brown Line stop in Lincoln Square will close this weekend for construction, with free shuttle buses provided between Western and Damen stops. Work includes new flooring, electrical upgrades, and a bus canopy, part of the 2019 Lincoln Square Master Plan to improve transit infrastructure and public spaces.

Four homes were burglarized near the Dunning-Portage Park border within a few days, with a suspect described as an 18-20-year-old man in a black or gray hoodie stealing items like safes, guns, and jewelry. Police urge residents to secure their homes and report suspicious activity.

Chicago’s outdoor pools will open on June 19, a week earlier than last summer, with extended daily hours. The Park District has hired over 700 lifeguards and adjusted schedules to address pandemic-era staffing shortages.

Four boys aged 12 to 14 were shot in Bronzeville on Saturday evening, with injuries ranging from leg wounds to a bullet graze. Police believe a person at the scene opened fire before fleeing, and no arrests have been made as the investigation continues.

The Metra Electric Line will increase service starting June 15, adding stops at Hyde Park stations and extending service hours. The changes, part of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority's implementation, include a sales tax increase to fund public transit, with $200 million expected this year. Governor JB Pritzker highlighted improved connectivity to destinations like the Obama Presidential Center.

Five Broadview protesters faced a traumatizing legal battle after being indicted on felony conspiracy and misdemeanor charges related to a protest at an immigration detention facility. The U.S. Attorney’s Office later dismissed the case due to errors, but the defendants reported significant financial and psychological tolls.

A car crashed into a Dunkin’ in Dunning, forcing temporary closure. A 32-year-old woman driving a Jeep Wrangler hit the building while parking, injuring two women inside. The driver received a citation for driving on a suspended license, and the business may reopen by 6 p.m.

Ald. Timmy Knudsen supports a revised Francis Parker School expansion plan in Lincoln Park, which includes replacing an apartment building with an academic facility and offering housing benefits to displaced residents. However, neighbors oppose the project, citing concerns about housing loss and displacement, and plan to continue protests as the proposal moves through city approvals.