News

The Environmental Protection Agency announced a new program last week to speed up toxic lead line removal in four states, but Illinois — which suffers from the worst lead pipe problems in the nation — isn't one of them.

Why it matters: This isn't the first time we've been mysteriously snubbed when it comes to getting federal help for lead removal.

In our new series showing a fresh side of this year's mayoral hopefuls, we present our Q&A with Illinois Rep. Kambium "Kam" Buckner.

The candidate: Buckner, the son of a law enforcement officer and a CPS teacher, played football at the University of Illinois and went to law school at DePaul. He's served in the General Assembly since 2019 as a progressive Democrat.

The Democratic National Committee is reportedly close to deciding on the host city for its 2024 convention.

• Last week, the DNC told Houston the city was out of the running, and sources tell us that Atlanta and Chicago remain the front-runners.

This week's Trail Mix column dishes up nuggets on next month's municipal election — that has already seen 808 early ballots cast!

García's rough start

When Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García entered the mayoral race, he touted his experience and connections to Chicago political giants as selling points. But recently those links have been tripping him up.

WNBA star Candace Parker is leaving the Chicago Sky. She's poised to sign a contract with the Las Vegas Aces when free agency begins Wednesday.

Why it matters: The Naperville native has helped turn the Sky into one of the league's best teams, bringing home Chicago's first WNBA championship two years ago.

Three of the Chicago area's 10 best-selling vehicles are pickup trucks — yet pedestrian and road safety advocates say today's massive trucks are a hazard, given their size, weight, and driver blind spots.

• In a new special project, Axios' Will Chase, Jared Whalen and Joann Muller looked back over the past 50 years to examine the societal and lifestyle changes behind pickups' ever-increasing size.

This Saturday marks the return of the Chicago Polar Bear Club's annual Polar Plunge, when hundreds jump in Lake Michigan at noon on Oak Street Beach to benefit local families in need.

What's happening: To help out first-time plungers, we asked for some tips from our favorite year-round swimmer and former WBEZ host Alison Cuddy. She recently wrote about her cold weather swimming and is now working on a book.

The state's first intergenerational cohousing building, designed to mingle families of all ages, is set to break ground this spring in Oak Park.

Why it matters: The development at Carpenter Avenue and Madison Street, called Oak Park Commons, finally brings this eco-conscious, communal living style to the urban Midwest — as opposed to just the coasts and college towns.