Good morning, Chicago.
With less than three weeks left in its spring legislative session, members of the Illinois General Assembly are pushing to pass legislation responding to the rise of artificial intelligence and what they view as the Trump administration’s failure to shield the public from its potential harms.
Senate Democrats yesterday outlined a range of proposals, including for education, consumer protection and data privacy, that could serve as guardrails to the technology. Republican lawmakers, as they have during previous AI debates in the Democratic-controlled legislature, cautioned that such measures could hinder innovation.
There’s a “sense of urgency” to act, Democratic state Sen. Bill Cunningham of Chicago said at a statehouse news conference, because “the federal government has taken no substantive action on this subject matter, despite the expansive and continually growing role AI plays in our lives.”
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including why Mayor Brandon Johnson is heading to the Vatican, another game in the Bears 2026 schedule is announced and 100 concerts in Chicago on our list for this summer.
Today’s eNewspaper edition | | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History
Doctor who helped ship take care of passengers with hantavirus is isolated in Nebraska medical unit
An oncologist traveling on the cruise ship at the center of a hantavirus outbreak says he’s the lone American isolated at a special biocontainment unit in Nebraska.
Dr. Stephen Kornfeld of Bend, Oregon, says he volunteered to help care for fellow passengers who began getting sick aboard the MV Hondius in April. He was among more than 120 passengers and crew evacuated from the ship, and flown to different countries to enter quarantine.
Chicago hopes Trump will cooperate as it bids to repeat as host for Democratic National Convention in 2028
Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson offered assurances yesterday that their ongoing animosity with Republican President Donald Trump wouldn’t hamper security planning with federal agencies if national Democratic officials choose Chicago to repeat as host for the party’s 2028 nominating convention.
Mayor Brandon Johnson to meet with Pope Leo XIV during Vatican visit
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s visit will be the first time a pope has hosted a Chicago mayor in over a decade, since Pope Francis held a 2016 ceremony attended by Mayor Rahm Emanuel for the elevation of Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich to cardinal. As with that trip, expenses for this month’s excursion will be covered by World Business Chicago, according to Johnson’s office.
- Pope Leo XIV: 10 poignant moments from the Chicago native’s historic 1st year
- Vintage Chicago Tribune: 5 things you might not know about 5 places connected to Pope Leo XIV
Chicago, North Chicago among cities adding residents as municipalities try to regain lost population
Chicago slightly reversed its recent population loss, while outlying suburbs like Plainfield and Lockport continued to grow at the fastest rates in Illinois, reflecting nationwide growth in medium-sized towns, new U.S. Census estimates show.
Chicago gained 5,253 residents in the year leading up to July 1, 2025, remaining the third largest city in the United States, at 2,731,585. Still, since 2020, the city has lost 16,748 people, or 0.6%.
Chicago ‘Dreamers’ say they’re fearful of job loss, deportations
Men and women who were brought to the United States as children are at risk of being deported by the Trump administration as federal officials delay processing their immigration paperwork, creating backlogs that are causing people to lose their jobs and fear deportation, federal officials and advocates said this week.
- New acting ICE chief once touted GEO prison project in Gary
- Federal tort claims filed for residents arrested in ‘shocking’ military-style raid on South Shore building
Sheriff’s license plate reader deal draws opposition, while AI cameras for Cook County Jail delayed
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s push to expand the network of automatic license plate readers under his control prompted hours of debate and opposition from county commissioners yesterday concerned about misuse of data and exploited loopholes.
While they eventually advanced that deal to a final vote today, commissioners deferred another proposed contract from Dart that drew strong opposition from various community groups, to fund artificial intelligence-fueled video surveillance at the Cook County Jail.
Union leaders, board members decry Chicago Public Schools cuts
Officials released school-level budgets to principals earlier this week, likely increasing class sizes by raising the student-to-teacher ratio it uses to allocate funding by one student. Most schools with under 250 students will also lose funding for assistant principals.
Chicago Bears 2026 schedule: Thanksgiving game on tap vs. Detroit Lions for 5th time in 9 seasons
For the second time in three years and the fifth time since 2018, the Bears and Lions will kick off the NFL’s Thanksgiving slate at noon CT on CBS. This year, Thanksgiving is on Nov. 26 and falls in Week 12 of the NFL season.
As Kyle Teel nears his return, Chicago White Sox relying on Edgar Quero and Drew Romo behind the plate
The Sox are happy about Kyle Teel’s potential return from a right hamstring strain suffered March 10. He appeared in his first rehab assignment game Tuesday with Charlotte and went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs against Norfolk.
- White Sox reach .500 for 1st time since March 2025, edging Kansas City Royals 6-5 for 4th straight win
- Fan hospitalized after falling into bullpen during White Sox-Royals game
100 concerts in Chicago for summer 2026
This weekend’s Bruno Mars concerts kick off a new summer of live music outdoors at Soldier Field. Kid Rock’s Freedom 250 Tour does the same for Tinley Park and Two Friends for Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island. With Memorial Day about a week away, here are 100 concerts to help you plan your summer from now until the first day of autumn — focusing on the arena shows, festivals and big outdoor venues.