Good morning, Chicago.
Exactly 40 years after they first met in Saturday morning detention, every member of the original Breakfast Club — the popular girl (Molly Ringwald), the jock (Emilio Estevez), the recluse (Ally Sheedy), the nerd (Anthony Michael Hall), the rebel (Judd Nelson) — will reunite tomorrow for the first time since 1985. The occasion is C2E2, the annual Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo at McCormick Place.
A couple of days before the Breakfast Club was set to visit the South Loop, the Tribune’s Christopher Borrelli met with six teenagers at Glenbrook North High School to watch “The Breakfast Club” itself.
Most had never seen it. But all were well aware of its outsized legacy in the long hallways of this sleek 72-year-old North Shore institution: John Hughes, the film’s director and writer, a man who arguably helped shape the way we think about teenagers, based the movie on his own experiences as a student at Glenbrook North.
Here’s what the Gen Z teens said of the Gen X film.
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including how Mayor Brandon Johnson is responding to President Donald Trump’s threat to revoke federal aid, an offer to help cover property tax bills for some and what to do this weekend.
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Judge allows requirement that everyone in the US illegally must register to move forward
A federal judge is allowing the Trump administration to move forward with a requirement that everyone in the U.S. illegally must register with the federal government, in a move that could have far-reaching repercussions for immigrants across the country.
In a ruling yesterday, Judge Trevor Neil McFadden sided with the administration, which had argued that they were simply enforcing an already existing requirement for everyone in the country who wasn’t an American citizen to register with the government. The requirement goes into effect today.
Mayor Brandon Johnson responds to Trump threat to revoke federal aid for sanctuary cities
Mayor Brandon Johnson sought to reassure Chicagoans that his administration would defend itself against President Donald Trump’s latest threat to strip cities with sanctuary policies for immigrants of federal aid.
Illinois Senate approves bills, including one regarding police hiring, in response to Sonya Massey killing
Less than a year after a sheriff’s officer fatally shot a Black Springfield woman, the Illinois Senate has passed two measures aimed at issues raised during nationwide protests over the shooting.
One bill would prohibit law enforcement agencies from hiring any cops unless they authorize previous police departments they worked for to make their employment records available. The second would allow Sangamon County to create a process for countywide elected officials to be recalled through a referendum vote in the 2026 election. Both bills now head to the Illinois House.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle acknowledges troubled tech overhaul
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle yesterday acknowledged difficulties with the expensive, long-delayed and glitch-ridden computer overhaul of the county’s property tax system, but she insisted the endeavor was worthwhile to get critical county data off a dangerously outdated computer system.
- Read the investigation: How a plan to streamline Cook County, state computer systems led to massive costs and delays
- Cook County to offer $1,000 relief to help cover property tax bills for some
‘They always asked me for money’: Ex-red light camera exec talks about cigars, dinners, bribes
Burr Ridge businessman Omar Maani told a federal jury yesterday that he started bribing public officials when he was still in his 20s, making money hand-over-fist as a real estate developer and co-founder of lucrative red light camera company SafeSpeed LLC. Maani’s stark portrayal of old-school Chicago graft — and his admitted role in it — came during his cross-examination in the bribery trial of state Sen. Emil Jones III, who is charged with soliciting $5,000 from Maani as well as a part-time job for his legislative intern in exchange for Jones’ help in Springfield with legislation important to SafeSpeed.
It’s one of many cases made by Maani, who began cooperating with the FBI after being confronted in January 2018 and spent nearly two years undercover, wearing wires and hidden video recorders as he held court with elected officials at steakhouses, pancake restaurants and a suburban cigar lounge where Maani had a hidden interest.
Man found guilty in death threat against former Mayor Lori Lightfoot
A Cook County judge yesterday found a man guilty of threatening then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who last month testified that receiving the profane and racist missive was traumatizing to her and her family.
Group files federal complaint over Deerfield transgender student using locker room
A conservative group this week asked the U.S. Department of Justice to file criminal charges against a Deerfield school district amid allegations that officials forced middle school students to change into gym clothes in front of a transgender classmate.
The request, which does not necessarily mean charges will be filed, comes about two weeks after the Justice Department announced it was investigating whether the alleged incident violated Title IX, a law that prohibits schools from discriminating against female students. Such violations can result in a loss of federal funding.
Once a backer of Chicago Fire land deal, housing authority resident leader now says CHA ‘sabotaging’ redevelopment
Mary Baggett and CHA are pointing fingers at one another. Baggett says the housing authority is not keeping its contractual obligation to rehab Brooks Homes, the 330-unit building where she and other CHA residents live adjacent to the new soccer facility. The Chicago Fire, CHA and its residents signed a legal agreement as a part of the land lease deal on the terms of the Brooks Homes redevelopment. CHA says resident leaders are becoming a liability to construction projects following a CHA Office of the Inspector General report.
Michelle Obama addresses divorce speculation
Michelle Obama has finally shut down speculation that she and former President Barack Obama are headed for divorce, while admitting her newfound independence has fueled the rumors.
Column: Garrett Crochet returns this weekend. So why won’t Chicago White Sox pay to keep young starters?
We already saw ’24 Sox refugees Yoán Moncada and Nicky Lopez return to the South Side in the opening series with the Los Angeles Angels, during which Sox fans lustily booed Moncada, writes Paul Sullivan. This weekend we’ll see the return of pitcher Garrett Crochet, the White Sox’s lone All-Star representative last year, in a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox.
Connor Bedard will chase more speed this offseason to become a ‘more dangerous player’ for Chicago Blackhawks
Connor Bedard always has been a fast learner, but he just wants to be faster. Period. And that’s going to be the Chicago Blackhawks forward’s focus this offseason: speed.
“Change it up a bit,” Bedard told the Tribune. “I always work super hard, I think working extra smart and doing everything, (but) the big thing for me is just increasing my speed.
‘Drop’ review: We’ll start with the death threats, and two glasses of the Malbec
A film that does the doomscrolling for you, “Drop” relies on a great deal of nervous, life-and-death messaging, writes Tribune film critic Michael Phillips. As digitally dropped threats from an unknown predator grow increasingly sinister during the protagonist’s big date at a Chicago restaurant, the messages blast across the big screen in huge letters, or plaster an entire wall of the ladies’ restroom.
What to do in Chicago: C2E2, J Balvin and a very different kind of bingo
Also around the area this weekend, Ani DiFranco plays Thalia Hall and Gallagher Way hosts a watch party for the Masters Tournament.
