Your Daily Guide

Chicago Immigration Court is a ‘Deportation Factory’

This year, the Trump administration has ramped up immigration efforts in large group hearings. An analysis found that the Chicago courts, which cover immigration cases in Illinois and Wisconsin, ordered 7,100 removals last month. [Tribune 🔒]

• Some relief: Haitian immigrants are getting temporary extensions in Chicago. [NBC5]

Do Chicagoans Believe Crime Is Down?

Many Chicagoans feel like violent crime is rising, according to a new poll. But the data doesn't support it. On today’s podcast, we break down those findings. Plus, a countersuit from the Archdiocese of Chicago. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

United Delaying New Routes to Smaller Cities

The airline announced it’s delaying 10 new routes from O’Hare after federal regulators extended a limit on the number of flights at the airport. The flight caps due to construction will last through October 2027. [Crain’s 🔒]

• Catch Up: The limit came after United and American announced a record number of summer flights, escalating their beef at O’Hare. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

U of C vs. Quantum

University of Chicago scientists, grad students, and research staff have united to vocally oppose the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. After reviewing public records, environmental records, and more, the group says the science to support it is simply not there. Their report focuses on contamination at the future quantum site, the former South Works plant. [South Side Weekly]

Many cities can claim pizza or hot dogs as their specialty, but no one else can claim the Italian beef. That’s why I think it's funny that Chicago is only just now getting an Italian Beef Fest. It begins Friday in Jefferson Park.

The former Jeff Fest rebranded to focus on the simple yet delicious thinly sliced beef, dipped in gravy or jus of garlic, oregano, and other spice blends. You can add giardiniera, sweet peppers, and (arguably) cheese, all served on a white flour roll. To me, it’s perfect. And it certainly tastes better when someone isn’t in your ear saying they “don’t find wet meat appetizing.”

We’ve been fighting about this for a while, but the truth is, I am the lone Italian beef lover on the City Cast team. Creative producer Emmi Mack is a hot dog expert — she even got her degree. And host Jacoby Cochran took me to his favorite sandwich shop to try the sweet steak. Both iconic, but I still think the beef takes it all.

A brief beef history: In “Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites,” Monica Eng and David Hammond point to three possible origin stories:

• Al’s #1 Italian Beef: Their website claims that they were “the beef stand that launched the national sandwich of Chicago,” in Little Italy. At the end of World War I, Anthony Ferreri was at an Italian “peanut wedding” where they served a beef roast sliced by hand and made sandwiches out of it. He sliced the beef much thinner, cooked it in its juices, some secret spices, and the “Beef Sandwich” was born.
• Scala Packing Co.: This theory points to Scala Packing Co., the meat wholesaler, and to Lucca Bakery on South Western Avenue.
• It was working-class Italians: The third, less commercial origin story is that the idea came from working-class families at weddings, and so the glory belongs to them.

‘The Bear’ effect: Before FX’s hit show “The Bear,” many non-Chicagoans had no idea what an Italian beef was. Now, out-of-towners, and probably locals alike, flock to Mr. Beef — the River North establishment “The Bear” is based on. Creator and showrunner Christopher Storer grew up in Park Ridge, where he would meet his childhood friend and later Mr. Beef owner, Chris Zucchero.

“Dipped, mozz cheese, hot peppers.” That’s my order. I grew up getting it at Nicky’s in Gage Park, and I don’t care if I get shamed for getting it at Portillo’s once in a while! Here are a few other spots the internet loves:

• Johnnie's Beef in Elmwood Park
• Carm’s in Little Italy
• Bob-O’s Hot Dogs in Irving Woods