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New Ryan Field faces its neighborhood test

The new stadium is set to bring 35,000 people to Central Street in Evanston on Friday.

Sports

Northwestern football returns home Friday night, unveiling its $870 million Ryan Field nearly three years after the old stadium was demolished.The big picture: The Wildcats kick off against Penn State at 7pm Friday, exactly 100 years after the original Ryan Field opened.

Bite Club: The Reuben sundae

Kith Treats is serving three Katz's-inspired desserts, including a wild Reuben soft serve.

Food and Drink

New York&#x27;s legendary Katz&#x27;s Delicatessen has landed in Chicago, but don&#x27;t expect pastrami and corned beef.

New book highlights healing power of dance and more 

New book by Chicago's Dr. Geeta Maker-Clark illuminates many paths to healing.

Health

When Chicago physician <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Geeta Maker-Clark" data-vars-click-url="https://drgeetamakerclark.com/about/" data-vars-content-id="a2308e2a-253a-4d1f-a866-650dff87df41" data-vars-headline="New book highlights healing power of dance and more " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://drgeetamakerclark.com/about/" target="_blank">Geeta Maker-Clark</a> launched her book &quot;Medicine For All People&quot; this summer, she knew there had to be dancing — and lots of it.

Chicago neighborhood quiz, volume 2: Do you know these famous landmarks?

There are so many landmarks in Chicago that it's ripe for a second quiz!

Neighborhoods

Last week, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="I quizzed you" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/09/25/chicago-neighborhood-quiz-landmarks-lakeview-beverly-pilsen-gold-coast" data-vars-content-id="9efdac03-893d-41ff-b5ca-53b20dff4fc1" data-vars-headline="Chicago neighborhood quiz, volume 2: Do you know these famous landmarks?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/09/25/chicago-neighborhood-quiz-landmarks-lakeview-beverly-pilsen-gold-coast" target="_self">I quizzed you</a> on Chicago neighborhood landmarks. <ul><li>I gave you the landmark; you gave me the &#x27;hood.</li></ul>

Chicago mayor proposes 12-month moratorium on new data centers

The move would give the city time to study the impacts data centers have on residents.

Environment

Chicago could halt new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data center development" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/11/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-urges-moratorium-on-data-centers" data-vars-content-id="c3cd2ce8-1203-4cea-994a-38f331ba73cd" data-vars-headline="Chicago mayor proposes 12-month moratorium on new data centers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/11/chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-urges-moratorium-on-data-centers" target="_self">data center development</a> within city limits for a year.Why it matters: Data centers&#x27; growing demand for electricity and water could affect residents&#x27; utility bills and the environment, and city leaders want more time to study those impacts.

Chicago ranked world's most climate-resilient city, but risks remain

With the EPA rolling back climate protections, Chicago looks to chart its own course.

Chicago ranked No. 1 for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="climate resilience" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/realestate/is-your-city-prepared-for-climate-disaster.html" data-vars-content-id="7f05e169-e412-431f-ae99-5d12dc9cd417" data-vars-headline="Chicago ranked world&#x27;s most climate-resilient city, but risks remain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/realestate/is-your-city-prepared-for-climate-disaster.html" target="_blank">climate resilience</a> in an AlphaGeo analysis of 72 major cities, a distinction Mayor Brandon Johnson is touting as he runs for reelection.The big picture: More than 50 years after officials adopted the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Deep Tunnel plan" data-vars-click-url="https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/tunnel-and-reservoir-plan-tarp" data-vars-content-id="7f05e169-e412-431f-ae99-5d12dc9cd417" data-vars-headline="Chicago ranked world&#x27;s most climate-resilient city, but risks remain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mwrd.org/what-we-do/tunnel-and-reservoir-plan-tarp" target="_blank">Deep Tunnel plan</a>, Chicago continues to invest in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="trees" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/05/30/tree-cover-pollution-chicago" data-vars-content-id="7f05e169-e412-431f-ae99-5d12dc9cd417" data-vars-headline="Chicago ranked world&#x27;s most climate-resilient city, but risks remain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/05/30/tree-cover-pollution-chicago" target="_self">trees</a> and stormwater infrastructure as it prepares for more extreme weather.<ul><li>Now planners are considering the city&#x27;s next generation of climate defenses.</li></ul>

When is it too late to seed your lawn in Chicago?

The unseasonably warm September temperatures are causing complications.

Climate

Chicagoans hoping to repair their lawns after a hot summer are running out of time.Why it matters: Late summer and early fall are the best times to reseed lawns in northern Illinois, giving new grass enough time to establish before winter.

Gary power outages highlight disparities in storm recovery

Leaders are asking why some in the predominantly Black city of Gary are still without power.

Nearly two weeks after a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="powerful derecho" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/12/illinois-derecho-tornado-indiana-south-suburbs-trees-power-flooding" data-vars-content-id="f6978046-9945-4f88-8861-d6399eb00e5d" data-vars-headline="Gary power outages highlight disparities in storm recovery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/12/illinois-derecho-tornado-indiana-south-suburbs-trees-power-flooding" target="_self">powerful derecho</a> tore through the Chicago area, some residents of Gary, Indiana, are still without power, raising questions about who bears the brunt when critical infrastructure fails.The latest: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NIPSCO" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nipsco.com/outages/power-outages" data-vars-content-id="f6978046-9945-4f88-8861-d6399eb00e5d" data-vars-headline="Gary power outages highlight disparities in storm recovery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nipsco.com/outages/power-outages" target="_blank">NIPSCO</a> says Gary residents should have their power restored by 11:59pm Tuesday, after extending that deadline from last Friday.

Trump's Indiana storm declaration puts Illinois FEMA aid in spotlight

Is Illinois getting the shaft on federal storm aid due to politics?

President Trump&#x27;s rapid emergency declaration for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="storm-ravaged Indiana" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/17/indiana-launches-emergency-assistance-housing-vouchers-for-flood-victims" data-vars-content-id="5db2749c-7612-4556-901a-5f0771ddb6f5" data-vars-headline="Trump&#x27;s Indiana storm declaration puts Illinois FEMA aid in spotlight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/08/17/indiana-launches-emergency-assistance-housing-vouchers-for-flood-victims" target="_self">storm-ravaged Indiana</a> is renewing Democratic concerns about partisanship in federal disaster aid.Why it matters: Thousands of Illinoisans are dealing with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="damaged or lost property" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/12/illinois-derecho-tornado-indiana-south-suburbs-trees-power-flooding" data-vars-content-id="5db2749c-7612-4556-901a-5f0771ddb6f5" data-vars-headline="Trump&#x27;s Indiana storm declaration puts Illinois FEMA aid in spotlight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/12/illinois-derecho-tornado-indiana-south-suburbs-trees-power-flooding" target="_self">damaged or lost property</a> from the same derecho that produced eight tornadoes, power outages and flooding on both sides of the state line.

Is Chicago prepared for more powerful storms? Derecho puts region to the test

Severe weather is making this a record summer for storm damage.

Tuesday&#x27;s derecho wasn&#x27;t just a storm; it was a stress test. The latest: The fast-moving, powerful storm produced three tornadoes and battered several south suburban and Northwest Indiana communities. <ul><li>The storm has been blamed for a house explosion that killed a person in Portage, IN. </li><li>Power is still out in several area suburbs and a fuel shortage is affecting Lake and Porter counties in NWI. </li><li>With the three tornadoes from Tuesday, Illinois has become the second state on record to surpass 200 tornadoes in a single year. </li></ul>

How far $500K goes at Chicago parks

A new voting process lets residents help decide which Park District improvements get funded.

For the first time, Chicagoans can weigh in on how the Park District spends $500,000.Why it matters: Participatory budgeting gives residents a say in how city officials spend tax dollars on public amenities and services.

Johnson calls on state lawmakers to tighten data center rules 

He says that Springfield needs to do more at the state level.

When it comes to regulating data centers, Illinois lags behind <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Texas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/08/03/greg-abbott-halts-texas-data-centers-electric-grid" data-vars-content-id="fd925818-39b4-49da-814a-25010a39f1fe" data-vars-headline="Johnson calls on state lawmakers to tighten data center rules " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/08/03/greg-abbott-halts-texas-data-centers-electric-grid" target="_self">Texas</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Florida" data-vars-click-url="https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2026/governor-ron-desantis-signs-law-protect-floridians-subsidizing-data-centers" data-vars-content-id="fd925818-39b4-49da-814a-25010a39f1fe" data-vars-headline="Johnson calls on state lawmakers to tighten data center rules " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2026/governor-ron-desantis-signs-law-protect-floridians-subsidizing-data-centers" target="_blank">Florida</a>, whose governors have recently enacted tough new laws to ensure local control and even stop development.<ul><li>But Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson moved to tighten data center rules in at least one big part of Illinois and called on state lawmakers to follow suit. </li></ul>

How to make a "clean room" during wildfire season

Choose a room with an air filter and adjacent bathroom but no cooking.

In this<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" second consecutive summer of dangerous wildfire smoke, " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/08/06/chicago-air-quality-canadian-wildfire-smoke-explained" data-vars-content-id="70c9fba9-69e5-4322-8942-8c69d8729a60" data-vars-headline="How to make a &quot;clean room&quot; during wildfire season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/08/06/chicago-air-quality-canadian-wildfire-smoke-explained" target="_self"> second consecutive summer of dangerous wildfire smoke, </a>you may already know to wear a mask, reduce outdoor exposure and check <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AQI levels," data-vars-click-url="https://www.iqair.com/air-quality-map/usa/illinois/chicago" data-vars-content-id="70c9fba9-69e5-4322-8942-8c69d8729a60" data-vars-headline="How to make a &quot;clean room&quot; during wildfire season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.iqair.com/air-quality-map/usa/illinois/chicago" target="_blank">AQI levels,</a> but do you know how to create a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;clean room&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.epa.gov/emergencies-iaq/create-clean-room-protect-indoor-air-quality-during-wildfire#what" data-vars-content-id="70c9fba9-69e5-4322-8942-8c69d8729a60" data-vars-headline="How to make a &quot;clean room&quot; during wildfire season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.epa.gov/emergencies-iaq/create-clean-room-protect-indoor-air-quality-during-wildfire#what" target="_blank">&quot;clean room&quot;</a> in your house?Why it matters: Even fairly well-sealed homes can end up with dirty air during these times of &quot;unhealthy&quot; to &quot;very unhealthy&quot; air quality levels, which may dissipate this weekend but are expected to spike again next week.<ul><li>Clean rooms can create a haven in your home with better air for all during periods of heightened risk. </li></ul>

Chicago wildfire smoke: Will "smoke season" become the new normal?

The wildfire smoke wreaked havoc on Chicago this week. Should we be planning for the next time?

News

Two days of hazardous air may force Chicago to face a new reality: We may need to start planning for a yearly &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="smoke season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/17/summer-smoke-season-wildfires" data-vars-content-id="21ffdc02-4314-43c1-aadf-b8c0aa8e5a76" data-vars-headline="Chicago wildfire smoke: Will &quot;smoke season&quot; become the new normal?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/17/summer-smoke-season-wildfires" target="_self">smoke season</a>.&quot;Why it matters: Chicago has always planned around winter storms and summer heat. Wildfire smoke may become another seasonal disruption for residents, businesses and public agencies.

Climate 🌿

Chicago mayor proposes 12-month moratorium on new data centers

Chicago ranked world's most climate-resilient city, but risks remain

When is it too late to seed your lawn in Chicago?

Gary power outages highlight disparities in storm recovery

Trump's Indiana storm declaration puts Illinois FEMA aid in spotlight