The final touches are being put on the Obama Presidential Center ahead of the June 19 public opening.

Why it matters: The OPC, where former President Barack Obama's life and presidential legacy are memorialized, sits just blocks from the neighborhood where his political career was born.

• It also represents the foundation of his family. Former first lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters were born in the neighborhoods surrounding the center.

What to expect: The word "hope," a theme Obama carried from campaign to office and beyond, greets visitors immediately at the museum entrance.

• It's notable, too, that the names and works of Chicagoans adorn the front hall — "The Land, Shared Sky" by local artist Nick Cave hangs next to the Harold Washington Overlook, named for Chicago's first Black mayor and a political hero of Obama's.
• The story of America kicks off the exhibitions with a copy of the Declaration of Independence, followed by images and artifacts marking major moments of social change in the U.S.

Context: Obama's upbringing is interspersed with these movements, showing that his life was always rooted in seeking social justice and public service.

Zoom in: Michelle Obama's life story gets equal attention throughout the exhibits. Her voiceover shares the story of growing up in South Shore as the daughter of civically engaged, hardworking parents through her time as an honor roll student at Whitney Young and as an undergrad at Princeton.

The intrigue: Chicagoans will appreciate moments that national and international visitors may miss — Michelle at a Bud Billiken Parade, Barack wearing a cowboy hat at a Little Village shop and the one-time state senator standing next to former Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones.

Fun fact: When asked what one item he wished was in the OPC that isn't there, corporate affairs head Michael Strautmanis joked, "the tan suit."

• The president gave the suit away, longtime Obama adviser and friend Valerie Jarrett told reporters yesterday.

💭 Carrie's thought bubble: It's hard not to feel proud and a little nostalgic walking through the museum as a Chicagoan because, let's be honest, we all felt like the Obamas were "ours." They brought so much Chicago to the White House, and we knew they were looking out for their hometown.

If you go: Beginning June 19, the outdoor area is free and open to the public, while the museum requires a ticket with timed entry.

Explore more of the museum

Illinois lawmakers passed one of the nation's strictest AI safety policies last week, but the state still lags behind Florida and Tennessee when it comes to regulating the buildings that make AI use possible: data centers.

Why it matters: In the wake of massive data center expansion, Illinoisans are facing skyrocketing energy bills and a looming power shortage.

State of play: Legislation called the POWER Act, meant to demand more data center transparency and to address energy price hikes, tanked in Springfield.

• Gov. JB Pritzker's attempt to temporarily pause state tax incentives for new data centers also hit a roadblock, in part because of trade union opposition.

What they're saying: Failure to pass the bills is "setting Illinoisans up to see higher energy bills, increased air pollution and greater risks to our water resources," Illinois Environmental Council communications director Hannah Flath tells Axios.

The other side: "Illinois' Data Center Investment program has generated nearly $16 billion in investment in Illinois since its inception in 2019," Brad Tietz of the Data Center Coalition tells Axios.

The big picture: Illinois hosts at least 222 data centers, and three more have been approved since the bill was introduced in February.

What's next: Some environmental advocates say they're looking ahead to the January veto session to revive data center regulation issues with a potentially more receptive Legislature.

Keep reading

🎮 Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will grace the cover of Madden 27, becoming the first-ever Bears player to appear on the cover of the flagship NFL video game. (Axios)

🚨 Mayor Brandon Johnson and alders are clashing over a report that says police response times are better without ShotSpotter. (Axios)

🪏 The 1901 Project near the United Center broke ground yesterday. The first phase of the $7 billion project will focus on building a new music venue, hotel and parking garage. (ABC 7)

🏳️‍🌈 Some Cubs fans are demanding answers about why the team hasn't posted about Pride Month on its social media channels while other teams have. (Block Club)

👋 Hey, it's Carrie.

My favorite new sandwich is a chicken sandwich, hold the meat.

The bite: Sichuan Spicy Tofu, subbed in for chicken ($14), at Zenwich in Elmhurst.

What to expect: The tofu is perfectly crisp, complete with crunchy edges, but definitely not greasy — a hard feat. Whatever is coating it hits the spot.

• This sandwich packs some major heat with diced jalapeños and Lao Gan Ma chili crisp, but the cucumber and creamy sauce, combined with chunks of celery, balance it out.

The latest: Zenwich has opened a second location at 1124 W. Thorndale Ave. in Edgewater.

Plus: I'm a huge sucker for homemade potato chips, but they're easy to get wrong! Too soggy, too greasy, too flavorless.

• Zenwich ($2.50) serves up a heavy coating of homemade seasoning (not just tons of salt) and perfect crispness.

Share this sandwich

Thousands have voted and we are down to the final two scenes in our quest to crown the best one from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

Why it matters: It's a fun way to honor Ferris' 40th anniversary next week.

State of play: The final scene cage match features Ferris on the parade float vs. Ferris and friends at the Art Institute.

• Two great scenes that showcase Chicago in all its glory.

Vote here. We'll keep the polls open until 5pm.