As he marked three years this week, Mayor Brandon Johnson told Axios he still thinks there's a chance to keep the Bears in Chicago — while sidestepping questions on underenrolled schools and his re-election.

State of play: Johnson faces a tough year ahead, one that will likely include:

• A re-election fight against a growing field, including Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.
• Another rough budget season with an increasingly oppositional City Council.
• The possibility of the Bears announcing departure plans.

Below is an excerpt from Monica's conversation with Johnson yesterday afternoon, edited for clarity.

Gov. JB Pritzker said this week that you have no real plan to keep the Bears here. Why do you think the team would choose a publicly owned stadium in Chicago over Arlington Heights?

• "They spent $20 million [on a plan] to do just that, and we didn't get any cooperation from the state of Illinois. ... There's no plan for Arlington Heights, and now you have surrounding mayors that have said the same thing."

If the Bears say they're only considering Arlington or Hammond, which would you support?

• "My preference is that they remain in Chicago."

CPS faces a massive budget deficit and potential teacher layoffs while dozens of schools remain underenrolled. Would you consider consolidating schools to preserve teacher jobs?

• "I think the real focus has to be on revenue from the state of Illinois. ... I think the choice right now is between working people and the ultra-rich."

This week, the Cook County State's Attorney announced a task force to tackle crime on CTA with more aggressive arrests and prosecutions. Do you support that approach?

• "Community safety is the top responsibility ... but it has to be inclusive...it can't just be policing."

If you don't get a second term, how would you like to be remembered?

• "I'm not out writing a memoir. ... That sounds like a little hubris. ... Over these past three years, we've seen historic lows in violence...We're on pace to build 10,000 affordable units, but as you know, we need more than that. That's what I'm reflecting on."

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U.S. cities are experiencing sharp declines in homicides this year — with one notable exception: Chicago.

Why it matters: Chicago is entering the traditional summer months for crime, with homicides slightly ahead of last year's pace, even as many major cities report steep declines in killings.

The latest: New 2026 crime data (January-April) from the Major Cities Chiefs Association shows double-digit declines in violent crime across several major American cities.

By the numbers: Chicago has recorded 152 homicides in 2026 — eight more than at the same point last year, according to the Chicago Police Department.

• Still, that total remains far below 2023 levels. The city had logged 216 homicides by this point in the year Brandon Johnson took office.
• Chicago also recorded the highest number of homicides among major U.S. cities from January through April, with 98 killings. Oakland was next with 67.

Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., saw a 65% year-over-year drop in homicides.

• New York City and Los Angeles also reported fewer killings.

Reality check: Homicides are often viewed as the clearest indicator of violent crime trends, but other categories in Chicago, including armed robberies and sexual assaults, are declining.

The bottom line: The increase in homicides is relatively small, but it stands out at a time when many major cities are seeing dramatic improvements.

Go deeper

Chicagoans leaving for Memorial Day roadtrips tomorrow or Friday afternoons will hit the worst traffic of the holiday weekend, per INRIX traffic data.

The big picture: Despite soaring gas prices, AAA is predicting the busiest Memorial Day ever for travel — making strategic timing essential.

By the numbers: AAA says more than 45 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more over the holiday weekend. That's 200,000 more than last year.

• The bulk of them — more than 39 million travelers — will be driving.

Best driving times: All day Sunday or very early in the day all weekend.

Zoom in: INRIX predicts our worst local travel corridor this weekend will be I-94 East between Milwaukee and Chicago on Thursday at 4:30pm with a 48% increase in traffic.

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⚖️ Ald. Jessie Fuentes is suing the federal government for an October incident when immigration agents handcuffed her at a Humboldt Park hospital. The alder is seeking $100,000 in damages. (Block Club)

Ammar Houssamo has been charged with murder after prosecutors say he fatally shot his ex-husband's partner in Edgewater last week, years after a protective order against him was lifted. (Sun-Times)

🏀 Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson is out for the rest of the season after tearing her ACL during Sunday's win against Minnesota. (ESPN)

Excitement around new retail stores in Chicago has led to long lines, and in at least one case, police on the scene.

State of play: The much-anticipated March opening of Uniqlo on the Mag Mile wasn't the only new Chicago-area presence for the Japanese brand.

• Uniqlo also opened at Oakbrook Center on May 15.

The latest: While that opening certainly attracted attention, it was a pop-up event at the suburban mall that led police to disperse customers.

• Watchmakers Audemars Piguet (AP) and Swatch launched their new collaboration in stores worldwide last week, but long lines that started early Saturday morning led Oakbrook to call off the event.

Popular stationery spot Paper and Pencil opened a new, larger location Saturday at 5208 N. Clark St., attracting a line down the block.

• A few blocks north, antique shop Vintiques & Company opened this month at 5432 N. Clark St.
• British menswear brand Charles Tyrwhitt opened a store last month at 625 N. Michigan Ave.

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