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| What Chicago's Talking About |
| | Mayoral Filings Begin — Without Mayor | Five mayoral hopefuls filed the first petitions for February’s election: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, businessman Willie Wilson, lobbyist John Kelly, and former Chicago Housing Authority chair Matt Brewer. Mayor Brandon Johnson was not among the group, ceding his chance to appear first on the ballot. [WTTW] | | Over 1,000 Birds Hurt, Killed Over Weekend | Millions of migratory birds flew through Chicago over the weekend — at least 1,000 died or were injured colliding into buildings. Fall bird migration peaks in October in Chicago. [Sun-Times] | | | Rat Birth Control Working Around Wicker Park | Rat activity dropped 88% in parts of Wicker Park and Bucktown where rat birth control was disseminated. One year into the pilot program, the drop seems steady, and funding has now increased. [Axios] | | | More Prison Time For Shoplifters in Cook County | Felonies and prison admissions over retail theft have spiked since 2024, when Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke reversed a limit on prosecution for stolen goods under $1,000. Right now, a veteran faces potential prison time for over an alleged $13 theft. [Tribune 🔓] | | | Woodlawn Honors Al Raby | The 6300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue was dedicated as Al Raby Way, honoring the public school teacher who helped fight for equal rights in Chicago. He worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. and ran the city’s Commission on Human Relations under Mayor Harold Washington. [Block Club] | | The Mass Shooting Attempt in Aurora | On today’s podcast, we cover the attempted mass shooting in Aurora, the state of gender affirming care in Chicago … Plus, should Chicago get a portal? [City Cast Chicago 🎧] | | | A Closure on Southport | The beloved Southport Grocery and Cafe is closing after 23 years in the neighborhood. A new diner concept by Dollop Coffee Co. will open in its place. (Southport Grocery and Cafe’s owner is a Dollop partner.) | - Stay tuned — tomorrow’s newsletter features new spots to dine and drink.
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| 3 Questions with DCASE Commissioner Kenya K. Merritt |
|  | DCASE Commissioner Kenya K. Merritt. (Courtesy of DCASE) |
| Sponsored by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. This interview was edited for clarity and brevity. | | You have two ongoing exhibitions that really bring new Chicago stories to life. What can you tell us about them? | | We're super excited about the exhibitions we have right now in the Cultural Center. One pays homage to folks that weave. We’ll actually have an opportunity for people to experience that themselves. The name of the exhibition is “To Be Remembered.” We’ll have amazing pieces for people to be able to explore throughout our Chicago rooms. | | The second exhibition that we have is “Freedom Fighters.” That gives us the ability to explore our cultural identity as well as our history here in Chicago, and the diversity of communities. | | Can you share more about DCASE’s programming and the resources for Chicago’s creative community? | | Supporting the creative industries and our creative workers is an area where we're looking to be more present. One way that we're doing that is through our Art is Labor campaign. | | We worked with the state of Illinois as well as the city's Office of Labor Standards to ensure that our creative workers had a pathway to voice their concerns. We now understand the value of the creative worker. Over the next couple of months, we'll continue to hear from them as we start to pull together a plan and a strategy around how we support our creative workers in Chicago. | | Can you tell me more about your upcoming event on Oct. 22? What's special about it? | | Bringing in young people and activating the Cultural Center are two of my priorities. In October, we will be hosting a program called Under the Dome, and we're looking to pack this place with young people. We'll have activities, as well as music, and ways for young people to get engaged. |
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Looking for family-friendly Halloween fun? The Park After Dark is a nice, light haunt — bigger thrill-seekers should consult our Guide to Halloween. | |  | Inside the Chase Fieldhouse, it’s a clown sweet 16. (Emmi Mack / City Cast Chicago) |
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