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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Chicago. Written by Monica Eng, Justin Kaufmann and Carrie Shepherd.

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Mayor Brandon Johnson introduces plan to combat homelessness

The proposed legislation would affect properties over $1 million.

Politics

Chicago's WLS-AM to double down on conservative format

"They told me that they intend to be the most conservative radio station in America," former host Big John Howell tells Axios.

News

Owners of unclaimed property could get up to $5,000 from Illinois

Overlooked safe deposit boxes, unpaid life insurance benefits, old bank accounts and unused rebate cards could mean extra cash.

Modern farmhouses dominate Chicago's suburbs

Modern farmhouses dethroned McMansions as the suburban dream home.

Real Estate

Illinois' connection to disaster-proof dome homes

The structure was popularized by inventor Buckminster Fuller, who worked at SIU in Carbondale.

Climate

More people are talking about dome homes and disaster-proof designs as a solution to climate threats.Why it matters: Experts say <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="increasing extreme weather" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/energy-environment/climate-change" data-vars-content-id="1d18fb76-e393-488d-8d95-e86ae43bf059" data-vars-headline="Illinois&#x27; connection to disaster-proof dome homes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/energy-environment/climate-change" target="_self">increasing extreme weather</a> could give mass-market appeal to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dome structures" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2023/07/25/climate-change-geodesic-domes-future-homes" data-vars-content-id="1d18fb76-e393-488d-8d95-e86ae43bf059" data-vars-headline="Illinois&#x27; connection to disaster-proof dome homes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2023/07/25/climate-change-geodesic-domes-future-homes" target="_self">dome structures</a>, which are relatively cheap to build and resilient against hurricane-force winds, Axios&#x27; Cuneyt Dil writes.

How Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration views environmental justice

New recommendations urges officials to expedite lead line removal, transition quickly to clean energy and make utilities equitable.

Today in our continuing series summarizing Mayor Brandon Johnson&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="transition committee reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/07/31/chicago-immigration-brandon-johnson" data-vars-content-id="05fdb2c0-3fb5-4f4b-b997-6a7fcc8c66e0" data-vars-headline="How Mayor Brandon Johnson&#x27;s administration views environmental justice" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/07/31/chicago-immigration-brandon-johnson" target="_self">transition committee reports</a>, seen as a &quot;blueprint&quot; for the city&#x27;s future, we tackle environmental justice.Why it matters: Cities use <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="78% of the world&#x27;s energy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-solutions/cities-pollution#:~:text=Cities%20are%20major%20contributors%20to,cent%20of%20the%20Earth&#x27;s%20surface." data-vars-content-id="05fdb2c0-3fb5-4f4b-b997-6a7fcc8c66e0" data-vars-headline="How Mayor Brandon Johnson&#x27;s administration views environmental justice" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-solutions/cities-pollution#:~:text=Cities%20are%20major%20contributors%20to,cent%20of%20the%20Earth&#x27;s%20surface." target="_blank">78% of the world&#x27;s energy</a> and create more than 60% of greenhouse gases, per the UN, which makes their environmental plans crucial to the future of the planet.

Illustration of a Black person's hands holding a plant made out of money. 

Illinois corn growers face off against feds over emissions limits

Local corn growers are attacking a Biden administration plan that's expected to accelerate a transition to electric vehicles.

Business

Illinois corn growers are attacking a Biden administration plan that&#x27;s expected to accelerate a transition to electric vehicles.What&#x27;s happening: The Illinois Corn Growers Association last week joined industry groups nationwide in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pressuring" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncga.com/stay-informed/media/in-the-news/article/2023/07/ninety-plus-trade-groups-representing-businesses-across-the-transportation-sector-urge-biden-administration-to-reconsider-tailpipe-emissions-rules" data-vars-content-id="1c9ce608-b268-4642-9d6b-4c272f49b2c2" data-vars-headline="Illinois corn growers face off against feds over emissions limits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncga.com/stay-informed/media/in-the-news/article/2023/07/ninety-plus-trade-groups-representing-businesses-across-the-transportation-sector-urge-biden-administration-to-reconsider-tailpipe-emissions-rules" target="_blank">pressuring</a> the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to pump the brakes on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="proposed auto tailpipe rules" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/10/epa-auto-emissions-rules-electric-vehicle-plan" data-vars-content-id="1c9ce608-b268-4642-9d6b-4c272f49b2c2" data-vars-headline="Illinois corn growers face off against feds over emissions limits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/10/epa-auto-emissions-rules-electric-vehicle-plan" target="_self">proposed auto tailpipe rules</a>.

Illustration of a danger sign with an ear of corn for an exclamation point.

Plastic crisis on display at Museum of Science and Industry

Harmful, toxic plastics end up in our waterways, which in turn get into our food supply and our drinking water.

Things to Do

A sparkling new exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry is spotlighting the global problem of plastic and microplastics in our oceans.<ul><li>And in Lake Michigan, just a few blocks away.</li></ul>

Chicago summers are getting hotter

New research shows that Chicago summers are getting more extreme.

Even though Chicago&#x27;s average summer temperature ticked up by just one degree over the last half-century, it&#x27;s no reason to chill out.Why it matters: Heat persists as the nation&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most-lethal weather element" data-vars-click-url="https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-heat-related-deaths#:~:text=Heat%20is%20the%20leading%20weather,heat%2Devents%2Dguidebook)." data-vars-content-id="da586b94-3821-4935-91d5-1e3a424dfb3c" data-vars-headline="Chicago summers are getting hotter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-heat-related-deaths#:~:text=Heat%20is%20the%20leading%20weather,heat%2Devents%2Dguidebook)." target="_blank">most-lethal weather element</a>. It can cause acute effects (such as exhaustion and heat stroke) as well as longer-term complications due to reduced air quality.

Red and gray line chart showing the average summer temperatures in Chicago from the 1970 to 2022 seasons. This is defined as  June 1 through August 31 of each year. The average temperature was 74°F in 1970 and 74°F in 2022. The 2022 season was the 15th warmest on record from 52 years of data.

Why Chicago's shrinking tree canopy hurts communities

Urban tree canopy improves air quality, absorbs stormwater and decreases flood risk.

Chicago has been losing tree canopy cover that helps reduce the impacts of extreme heat and air pollution.Why it matters: Urban tree canopy improves air quality by removing harmful gasses from the air and storing CO2, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="recent report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.climatecentral.org/report/the-power-of-urban-trees" data-vars-content-id="a247dadb-26b9-4d23-b306-599854003e33" data-vars-headline="Why Chicago&#x27;s shrinking tree canopy hurts communities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.climatecentral.org/report/the-power-of-urban-trees" target="_blank">recent report</a> from environmental information newsroom Climate Central.

"Chonkosaurus" fans can shell-ebrate Turtle Day in Chicago

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is celebrating with turtle feedings.

Chicagoans struck with &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chonkosaurus" data-vars-click-url="https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/05/18/chonk-the-thicc-snapping-turtle-is-a-superstar-and-great-news-for-the-chicago-river/" data-vars-content-id="2619bffa-37cd-4ef4-9ab8-050347d740d6" data-vars-headline="&quot;Chonkosaurus&quot; fans can shell-ebrate Turtle Day in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/05/18/chonk-the-thicc-snapping-turtle-is-a-superstar-and-great-news-for-the-chicago-river/" target="_blank">Chonkosaurus</a>&quot; fever are in for good news.What&#x27;s happening: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Turtle Day" data-vars-click-url="https://nationaltoday.com/world-turtle-day/#:~:text=Turtles%20and%20tortoises%20are%20common,associated%20with%20wisdom%20and%20perseverance." data-vars-content-id="2619bffa-37cd-4ef4-9ab8-050347d740d6" data-vars-headline="&quot;Chonkosaurus&quot; fans can shell-ebrate Turtle Day in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nationaltoday.com/world-turtle-day/#:~:text=Turtles%20and%20tortoises%20are%20common,associated%20with%20wisdom%20and%20perseverance." target="_blank">World Turtle Day</a> has arrived, shortly after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a video" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqnfWfCGg2s" data-vars-content-id="2619bffa-37cd-4ef4-9ab8-050347d740d6" data-vars-headline="&quot;Chonkosaurus&quot; fans can shell-ebrate Turtle Day in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqnfWfCGg2s" target="_blank">a video</a> of the large snapping turtle on the Chicago River went viral this month.

Chicago looks to improve its yard waste composting

Streets and Sanitation officials don't want folks to get discouraged about composting.

It&#x27;s Mother&#x27;s Day weekend, the traditional start to gardening season and a great time to catch up on what we&#x27;re supposed to do with yard waste.Why it matters: When organic material like yard waste goes to the landfill instead of getting composted, it creates <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="methane" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/02/methane-limits-cop26-legacy" data-vars-content-id="b89c60be-f7e5-4ebd-8c89-f2483d12b87d" data-vars-headline="Chicago looks to improve its yard waste composting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/02/methane-limits-cop26-legacy" target="_self">methane</a>, a greenhouse gas that traps <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="80 times" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/10/tracking-methane-space-climate-change" data-vars-content-id="b89c60be-f7e5-4ebd-8c89-f2483d12b87d" data-vars-headline="Chicago looks to improve its yard waste composting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/10/tracking-methane-space-climate-change" target="_self">80 times</a> more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide does.

Chicago's allergy season is getting longer

If allergy season feels longer now than it did in your youth, you have some solid data backing that up.

Chicago&#x27;s allergy season increased by 14 days, on average, from 1970 to 2021, per an analysis from Climate Central, a nonprofit climate news organization.<ul><li>That&#x27;s based on the number of days between the last freeze each spring and the first freeze each fall — essentially, the annual window during which seasonal allergy sufferers are most likely to rely on their antihistamine of choice to get by each day.</li></ul>

How Chicago air quality has improved in the last decade

But the metro area's fine particle pollution is still worse than the national average.

Air quality in the Chicago metro area, as measured by fine particle pollution, has improved since 2012, but is still higher than the national average.Why it matters: Fine particles, generated from fossil fuel-burning and other sources, can enter our bodies when we breathe, making their way to the lungs or bloodstream and causing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="myriad health problems" data-vars-click-url="https://www.epa.gov/pmcourse/what-particle-pollution" data-vars-content-id="9510e499-30a3-45e4-9d83-bf25ccedad12" data-vars-headline="How Chicago air quality has improved in the last decade" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.epa.gov/pmcourse/what-particle-pollution" target="_blank">myriad health problems</a>.

Climate 🌿