Good morning, Chicago.
As climate change scorches many regions responsible for growing the country’s produce, Illinois farms will become even more important for local — and national — food security.
But though it’s the fifth-largest agricultural state, Illinois largely relies on others for the fruits and vegetables that go into salads, sandwiches and smoothies.
It begs the question: Why doesn’t Illinois — with its nutrient-rich soil and relative abundance of water — grow more fresh produce?
“There’s just not enough farmers to fill institutional grocery stores,” said Marty Travis. “We are supply challenged.”
Travis is one of the farmers trying to fix that. For the last two decades, he’s been building a local food system from the ground up, serving as a middleman between specialty crop farmers and nearby markets.
Read the fourth and final part of our series “Cash Crops, Hidden Costs.” And in case you missed them, catch up on Parts 1 through 3.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what happened at “No Kings” protests from Chicago to Naperville to Orland Park, how the ex-Speaker’s trial testimony was “a tale of two Mike Madigans” and what to know about the James Beard Awards tonight.
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Two people detained on Father’s Day at Broadview immigration center
Natalia Cardenas, 28, cried on Father’s Day. The Cardenas family arrived in Chicago from Colombia three years ago and believed Jose Manuel, 49, was reporting for a routine appointment as part of the asylum process.
“We don’t know where he is … whether he’s OK,” Cardenas said in tears, in front of an immigration processing center in Broadview after watching her dad go inside.
Manuel was detained with a woman, also from Colombia, according to an immigration attorney who was with them during their appointment. On Friday, dozens of families in immigration proceedings received a text message from the federal government instructing them to report yesterday to the Broadview center for a check-in appointment.
President Donald Trump directs ICE to expand deportations in Democratic-run cities, including Chicago
President Donald Trump directed federal immigration officials to prioritize deportations from Democratic-run cities yesterday. In a social media post, Trump called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials “to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.”
He added that to reach the goal officials ”must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside.”
What happened at ‘No Kings’ protests from Chicago to Naperville to Orland Park
The sounds of one of Chicago’s largest protests in recent memory reverberated throughout downtown streets Saturday afternoon, as tens of thousands gathered in a united admonishment of President Donald Trump and then marched through the center of the city, pausing in front of the tower bearing his name to direct their ire.
- Chicago ‘No Kings’ demonstration sees giant crowd march peacefully around Loop
- Photos: ‘No Kings’ protest in downtown Chicago
Man suspected of shooting 2 Minnesota lawmakers is in custody after surrendering to police
The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another crawled to officers in surrender yesterday after they located him in the woods near his home, bringing an end to a massive, nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge.
Vance Boelter was arrested and charged with two counts of murder and two of attempted murder. He is accused of posing as a police officer and fatally shooting former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home early Saturday in the northern Minneapolis suburbs.
‘A tale of two Mike Madigans’: How the ex-Speaker’s trial testimony offered his life story but also route to 7 1/2-year sentence
Months before a federal judge sentenced former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to prison on Friday, the once-mighty state Democratic Party chairman took the witness stand in his corruption trial in an attempt to save himself.
The only politician in America to serve 36 years as a House speaker guided jurors through his version of a complex personal and political life where few have gone before.
‘Constant fear’: Illinois mom of 3 pleads with US government to help her evacuate Gaza
For Salsabeel ElHelou, it’s difficult to come up with the words to fully describe the “primitive” living conditions in Gaza for her and her three children. There’s no fuel for cooking, she said, and the drinking water is dirty. She spends much of her time desperately searching for flour to make bread because food is so scarce.
ElHelou, an American citizen, said she’s unsuccessfully pleaded with the U.S. government since the war broke out about a year and a half ago to help her entire family return to downstate Carbondale, the town where she grew up.
Column: Cubs, Chicagoans and Pope Leo XIV spread a message of hope and faith on a picturesque day in the city
A confluence of big events Saturday in Chicago fueled conversations all over town about our favorite topics: sports, politics, religion and weather.
It’s always a great day to be in Chicago in the summer, but some days are better than others, writes Paul Sullivan. This was one of those days. Ten of thousands of Chicagoans gathered together in various locations to do what we arguably do best — party, protest and pray.
- Pope Leo XIV encourages peace and harmony at Chicago’s Rate Field celebration
- Photos: Mass for Pope Leo XIV at Chicago White Sox’s Rate Field
Sam "Momo" Giancana leaves the courtroom in the Federal Building before being jailed for contempt of court on June 1, 1965.
The assassination of a Chicago mob kingpin 50 years ago remains unsolved
On June 20, 1975, Weldon Whisler’s phone rang at 1 in the morning. Instead of rolling over and going back to sleep, he answered it. That is the mark of a journeyman reporter.
“Have you got a paper and pencil handy?” the caller asked. “I’m going home now and to bed, and I will not answer the telephone; no one else will get the information I am giving you for several hours.”
Restaurant news: Wolf & Company, with first patio on The 606, among openings and closings around Chicago
Wolf & Company — from the owners of Little Bad Wolf, Gretel and The Good Wolf — will open a 10,000-square-foot, two-story space with the first and only patio directly accessible to The 606 elevated trail in Chicago.
The James Beard Awards are tonight. Here’s what to know.
The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards are at 6 p.m. tonight at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the awards and the 10th anniversary of the ceremony taking place in Chicago. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by chefs Nyesha Arrington and Andrew Zimmern.
True Colors drag troupe inspires audiences to be their true selves
On a recent Saturday, Sketchbook Brewing Co.’s Evanston taproom was filled to standing-room capacity by an enthusiastic crowd that clapped and danced along to performances of music by Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne, Lady Gaga and more. The artists who garnered such a warm response are collectively known as True Colors, a local drag troupe featuring individuals with a range of developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities.
